What is recurrent pericarditis?

Pericarditis is a painful autoinflammatory cardiovascular disease that typically presents with chest pain and is often associated with changes in electrical conduction and sometimes buildup of fluid around the heart, called pericardial effusion. People who have additional pericarditis episodes following a symptom-free period of 4-6 weeks or longer are identified as having recurrent pericarditis. Recurrent pericarditis is driven by “autoinflammation”. “Autoinflammation” is an abnormal form of inflammation that happens automatically or continuously due to a process within the body, not from external causes. In recurrent pericarditis, the recurrent flares are caused by autoinflammation that attacks the pericardium. Recurrent pericarditis symptoms have an impact on quality of life, limit physical activities, and lead to frequent emergency department visits and hospitalizations.