One thought on “Q: In relation to acute pericarditis:Is its ethiology the preceding AMI or the viral infection leading to the AMI?”
Camilla,
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not a viral infection, although it is discusses whether the aterosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries have viral origin. AMI is initiated by impeded blood flow to the heart muscle, causing heart muscle necrosis. This necrosis might be transmural (i.e. involving the entire heart muscle thickness), which will induce an inflammatory response on the outer surface, i.e. the pericardium. This is called acute pericarditis. AMI is the primary cause of this disorder, but it can also be caused by more systemic changes such as chronic kidney failure.
An unspecific acute pericarditis that is mild and most often symptomless may have viral etiology as a sign of systemic involvement.
Camilla,
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is not a viral infection, although it is discusses whether the aterosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries have viral origin. AMI is initiated by impeded blood flow to the heart muscle, causing heart muscle necrosis. This necrosis might be transmural (i.e. involving the entire heart muscle thickness), which will induce an inflammatory response on the outer surface, i.e. the pericardium. This is called acute pericarditis. AMI is the primary cause of this disorder, but it can also be caused by more systemic changes such as chronic kidney failure.
An unspecific acute pericarditis that is mild and most often symptomless may have viral etiology as a sign of systemic involvement.