The therapy of pericardial effusion should be targeted at the aetiology as much as possible.37–41 In ∼60% of cases, the effusion is associated with a known disease,18 and the essential treatment is that of the underlying disease. When pericardial effusion is associated with pericarditis, management should follow that of pericarditis.30,37
Nevertheless, when diagnosis is still unclear or idiopathic, and inflammatory markers are elevated, a trial of aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can be prescribed also to evaluate the response (Table 6). A viral or idiopathic form is often responsive to such empiric therapy. For the management of recurrent inflammatory cases, the first step is considering the combination of aspirin or a NSAID plus colchicine,42 while corticosteroids at low to moderate doses may be considered for specific indications (i.e. systemic inflammatory diseases and pregnancy),43 and in case of intolerance, contraindications, or failure of aspirin/NSAID; other therapies are based on less solid evidence: less toxic and less expensive drugs (e.g. azathioprine or methotrexate) should be preferred, tailoring the therapy for the individual patient and the physician experience
The therapy of pericardial effusion should be targeted at the aetiology as much as possible.37–41 In ∼60% of cases, the effusion is associated with a known disease,18 and the essential treatment is that of the underlying disease. When pericardial effusion is associated with pericarditis, management should follow that of pericarditis.30,37Nevertheless, when diagnosis is still unclear or idiopathic, and inflammatory markers are elevated, a trial of aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can be prescribed also to evaluate the response (Table 6). A viral or idiopathic form is often responsive to such empiric therapy. For the management of recurrent inflammatory cases, the first step is considering the combination of aspirin or a NSAID plus colchicine,42 while corticosteroids at low to moderate doses may be considered for specific indications (i.e. systemic inflammatory diseases and pregnancy),43 and in case of intolerance, contraindications, or failure of aspirin/NSAID; other therapies are based on less solid evidence: less toxic and less expensive drugs (e.g. azathioprine or methotrexate) should be preferred, tailoring the therapy for the individual patient and the physician experience
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