Uraemic Pericarditis - a Study of 22 Cases

PERICARDITIS in chronic uraemia gains its importance ordinarily trom its ominous prognostic significance^{1 2} The latter has changed in centres equipped with facilities for successful regular intermittent hae-modialysis and renal homotransplantation³. Unfortunately facilities for such advanced treatment is not available in most of the hospitals of our country. Uraemic pericarditis is usually of the dry fibrinous type but there may be associated effusion and recently it has been reported to progress even to the stage of constriction^{4 6}. It is usually a painless condition diagnosed on listening pericardial rub; but may be occasionally associated with severe chest pain². These varied clinical pictures and changing patterns have prompted us to analyse here 22 cases of uraemic pericarditis to re-evaluate its clinical features.