Pericarditis can be caused by viral infection, bacterial infection, cancer, connective-tissue diseases, certain medications, radiation treatment, and chronic renal failure.
- One life-threatening complication of pericarditis is cardiac tamponade.
- Cardiac tamponade is an accumulation of fluid around the heart. This prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood to the body.
- Symptoms of cardiac tamponade include sudden onset of shortness of breath, fainting, and chest pain.
- Cardiac tamponade is an accumulation of fluid around the heart. This prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood to the body.