Constrictive pericarditis laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Huda A. Karman, M.D.

Constrictive pericarditis lab findings can show evidence of congestive heart failure, or associated protein losing enteropathy, nephrotic syndrome, and LFT abnormalities consistent with hepatic congestion and chylous ascites

• Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Dilutional anemia if congestive heart failure (CHF) is present
  • Normocytic normochromic anemia (chronic inflammation)
• Leukocytosis
  • Infectious, bacterial, or rheumatologic etiology source or steroid therapy
• Leukopenia
  • Malignancy and chemotherapeutic agents use
• Hyponatremia or pseudohyponatremia
• Contraction alkalosis (hypochloremia with hypercarbia)
• Elevation of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels f
• Serum creatinine levels are observed
• Arterial blood gas measurement
• Metabolic acidosis (ie, low pH and low bicarbonate),
• Compensatory respiratory alkalosis (ie, decreased partial pressure of carbon dioxide
• Elevated transaminase levels
• Hypoalbuminemia (a protein-losing enteropathy (PLE)
• Proteinuria (nephrotic range)
• Elevated sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level (postpericardiotomy syndrome)
• Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), mildly increased (<150 ng/L)^[1]
• Antinuclear antibody (ANA) or rheumatoid factor (RF) (associated collagen vascular disorder)
• Purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test (TB)