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This patient is a 36-year-old white male with a history of long-standing renal disease who presents with end-stage kidney disease and a BUN of 112 mg/dL. During the present hospitalization he developed a pericardial friction rub and pericardial and pleural effusions. A semi-elective pericardiectomy was performed.
Submitted for examination was a rectangular segment of gray-tan tissue measuring 9.5 x 8.5 x 0.3 cm. The outer surface was fatty in appearance. The inner surface was rough and covered by a number of fine red papillary projections. The projections were composed of fine strands having the appearance of fibrin.
== Images ==
<gallery heights="250px" widths="250px">
File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis1.jpg|This is a gross Gross photograph of a this heart illustrating acute fibrinous pericarditis. The pericardium on this heart has been reflected back (arrows). The surface of the heart is rough due to the deposition of fibrin on the epicardial surface of the heart and on the inner surface of the pericardium.File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis2IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis2y.jpg|This is another view example of the fibrinous pericarditis in another heart with the . The pericardium has been removed. Most and most of the epicardial surface is covered with fibrinous deposits as in the previous slide. There are a few glistening areas of exposed normal epicardial myocardial tissue.File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis3IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis3b.jpg|This low-power photomicrograph illustrates the dark-red-staining fibrin deposits on the inner surface (arrows). This pericardium is much thicker than normal and there are numerous inflammatory cells within the pericardial tissue.File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis4IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis4b.jpg|This is a higher-power photomicrograph demonstrating fronds of fibrin (arrows) projecting from the surface of the pericardium.File:IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis5IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis5b.jpg|This high-power photomicrograph demonstrates fibrin (red amorphous material) on the surface of the pericardium (1). Note the reactive mesothelial cells on the surface of the pericardium (arrows) and the inflammatory cells within the pericardial tissue.
</gallery>
== Virtual Microscopy ==
<peir-vm>IPLab3FibrinousPericarditis</peir-vm>
== Study Questions ==
* <spoiler text="What is the etiology of the fibrinous pericarditis that developed in this patient with renal failure?">Azotemia (an excess of nitrogen in the blood) is believed to be the cause of fibrinous pericarditis but the exact mechanism is unknown.</spoiler>
* <spoiler text="What are some other possible causes for pericarditis?">These include:
* infection -- viral, bacterial (especially TB), or fungal;
* rheumatic fever
* systemic lupus erythematosus;
* scleroderma;
* myocardial infarction;
* trauma; and
* neoplasia.</spoiler>
* <spoiler text="From where does the fibrin come that produces fibrinous pericarditis?">Fibrinogen leaks out of the blood vessels as part of the inflammatory reaction. It is then converted to fibrin. A fibrinous exudate develops when the vascular leaks are large enough or there is a procoagulant stimulus (e.g., pericarditis).</spoiler>
* <spoiler text="What are the possible outcomes of this condition (fibrinous pericarditis)?">* The inflammatory reaction can progress and lead to tamponade (rare).
* The inflammatory reaction could subside and the fibrin would be lysed via the fibrinolytic system (most likely outcome).
* The fibrin could become organized and result in a fibrous connective tissue scar which could restrict cardiac function.</spoiler>
== Additional Resources ==
=== Reference ===
* [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/156951-overview eMedicine Medical Library: Acute Pericarditis]
* [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1918879-overview eMedicine Medical Library: Dialysis Complications of Chronic Renal Failure]
* [http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular_disorders/pericarditis/pericarditis.html Merck Manual: Pericarditis]
* [http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary_disorders/renal_failure/chronic_kidney_disease.html Merck Manual: Chronic Kidney Disease: Renal Failure]
=== Journal Articles ===
* Wood JE, Mahnensmith RL. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11208042 Pericarditis associated with renal failure: evolution and management]. ''Semin Dial'' 2001 Jan-Feb;14(1):61-6.
=== Images ===
* [{{SERVER}}/library/index.php?/tags/162-fibrinous_pericarditis PEIR Digital Library: Fibrinous Pericarditis Images]
* [http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/CVHTML/CVIDX.html#7 WebPath: Pericarditis]
== Related IPLab Cases ==
* [[IPLab:Lab 3:Acute Myocardial Infarction|Lab 3: Heart: Acute Myocardial Infarction]]
{{IPLab 3}}
[[Category:IPLab:Lab 3]]