Abstract
Acute meningococcal pericarditis is a rare clinical disorder. Our review of the literature disclosed that current classifications are confusing since they fail to differentiate between two distinct criteria: time and causality. We suggest a new classification of the various states of meningococcal pericarditis on the basis of the pathophysiological process: disseminated meningococcal disease with pericarditis (purulent, culture-positive, associated with meningococcal bacteraemia); isolated meningococcal pericarditis (purulent, culture-positive but without signs of meningeal or other clinical systemic involvement); and reactive meningococcal pericarditis (immunological, late-onset, culture-negative, resembling post-viral pericarditis). It is essential that clinicians recognize the various states of the disease, since they differ in natural history, treatment and prognosis.
Conclusion From personal experience and a literature review it emerges that meningococcal pericarditis should be classified as: (1) Pericarditis as local mani festation of disseminated meningococcal disease; (2) isolated minengococcal pericarditis; (3) reactive (immunopathic) meningococcal pericarditis.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 15 May 1996 / Accepted: 9 January 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Finkelstein, Y., Adler, Y., Nussinovitch, M. et al. A new classification for pericarditis associated with meningococcal infection. Eur J Pediatr 156, 585–588 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004310050669
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004310050669