Usefulness of Beta-Blockers to Control Symptoms in Patients with Pericarditis

Conventional therapy of pericarditis includes anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine, corticosteroids) for pain control and relief.1,2 Exercise restriction is a non-pharmacologic component of medical therapy and it is recommended by contemporary guidelines.2,3 Pericardial pain is triggered and worsened by friction of inflamed pericardial layers. A plausible hypothesis is that a reduction of heart rate could be helpful to achieve a better control of symptoms in pericarditis by reducing the friction of inflamed pericardial layers, and thus mechanical inflammation.
Source: The American Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research