Diseases of the pericardium encompass a spectrum of conditions, including acute and recurrent pericarditis, where inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. Anti-inflammatory therapy indeed forms the cornerstone of treating these conditions: NSAIDs, colchicine, and corticosteroids (as a second-line treatment) are recommended by current guidelines. However, these medications come with several contraindications and are not devoid of adverse effects. There has been an increased focus on the role of the inflammasome and potential therapeutic targets. Recurrent pericarditis also shares numerous characteristics with other autoinflammatory diseases, in which interleukin-1 antagonists have already been employed with good efficacy and safety.
1. Introduction
Pericardial diseases are a heterogeneous group of entities, ranging from acute pericarditis to asymptomatic pericardial effusion
[1]. According to the latest update of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on pericardial diseases, published in 2015
[2], researchers define (a) acute pericarditis (AP) as an inflammatory pericardial syndrome, with or without pericardial effusion; (b) recurrent pericarditis (RP) as being identified by the presence of new signs and symptoms of pericardial inflammation after a first documented episode of acute pericarditis and a symptom-free interval of 4–6 weeks or longer; (c) incessant pericarditis as when pericarditis symptoms last more than 4–6 weeks, but less than 3 months, without remission; and (d) chronic pericarditis as when pericarditis symptoms manifest for more than 3 months.
The diagnosis of AP requires at least two of the following diagnostic criteria: typical chest pain; the finding of a pericardial friction rub; and new electrocardiographic findings, such as widespread ST elevation or PR depression (observed in up to 60% of cases), and the presence of pericardial effusion on echocardiogram (seen in up to 60% of cases)
[2].
Precise epidemiological data for AP are lacking. The reported incidence in an urban area in Northern Italy was about of 27.7 cases per 100,000 person-years
[3]. Recently, many epidemiologic studies have highlighted how SARS-CoV-2 infection increased the incidence of pericarditis at least 15 times over pre-COVID levels, although the condition remains rare
[4].
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, and steroids (as second-line treatment) represent the mainstays of AP therapy
[1][2]; however, up to 30% of patients with AP experience a recurrence, especially if not treated with colchicine, and up to 50% of recurrent patients can experience more than one recurrence
[2].
To date, interleukin-1 (IL-1) antagonists (also called anti-IL-1 drugs or IL-1 blockers) are approved as a third line of therapy, only for cases of a non-infectious, steroid-dependent, and colchicine-refractory RP, with excellent results of efficacy and safety
[2][5].
However, some recent evidence, although deviating from current guidelines, has shown interesting data regarding the use of these drugs as first- or second-line treatments in both recurrent and acute pericarditis, with preliminary good safety and efficacy results.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/medicina60020241