Pericardial Disease Program
833-642-2863
World-renowned leaders in pericarditis
Part of the Heart and Vascular Institute
Learn more about the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute
About the program
We provide personalized care for people with diseases of the pericardium—the thin sac that surrounds the heart. We specialize in treating all forms of pericardial disease, including recurrent pericarditis and constrictive pericarditis.
Recurrent pericarditis happens when inflammation around the heart keeps coming back. It can cause repeated episodes of chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Our goal is to stop these flares, reduce pain, and help patients return to normal daily life.
Constrictive pericarditis occurs when the pericardium becomes thick or stiff and prevents the heart from filling properly. This can lead to swelling, shortness of breath, and symptoms of heart failure, which may be confused with other causes of heart failure. With expert diagnosis and treatment, this condition is often manageable or even curable.
We work closely with experts across many specialties to develop personalized care plans, including:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious disease
- Cancer
- Pain management
This team-based approach helps ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and thoughtful long-term care.
Our approach to pericardial disease
Diagnosing recurrent and constrictive pericarditis requires specialized expertise. We perform a comprehensive evaluation to find the underlying cause of your condition. Diagnostic tools we use include:
- Blood work
- Echocardiogram
- Cardiac catheterization
- Cardiac CT
- Cardiac MRI
Recurrent pericarditis can be difficult to treat, but we offer many therapies that are often highly effective. Our goal is to stop inflammation flares, reduce pain, and help you return to your normal daily life.
Recurrent pericarditis can behave differently from person to person, so we tailor treatment to your needs. Our team specializes in identifying the right therapy for the right individual. We incorporate close evaluation and careful treatment adjustments over time to control symptoms and protect your long-term heart health.
Constrictive pericarditis requires careful evaluation and specialized expertise to determine the right treatment approach. Our team has extensive experience diagnosing the condition and guiding you through your medical and surgical options. We focus on selecting the right therapy for you and delivering care that leads to meaningful, lasting improvement. We can often manage and even cure constrictive pericarditis.
If you need surgery, we offer radical pericardiectomy, a complex open-heart procedure that removes the diseased tissue around the heart to relieve symptoms and improve heart function.
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