
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Differentiating COVID-19-associated pericarditis from other diseases
Introduction

Overview
Overview
COVID-19-associated pericarditis must be differentiated from other causes of dyspnea and chest pain, such as myocarditis, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, pneumonia and pulmonary embolism.
Differential Diagnosis
Differential Diagnosis
COVID-19-associated pericarditis must be differentiated from other causes of dyspnea and chest pain, such as myocarditis, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, pneumonia and pulmonary embolism.
| Diseases | Symptoms | Physical Examination | Diagnostic tests | Other Findings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyspnea on Exertion | Chest Pain | Hemoptysis | Fever | Tachypnea | Tachycardia | Chest X-ray | ECG | Echocardiography | CT scan and CMR | ||
| COVID-19-associated pericarditis | β | β (relieves on sitting or leaning forward) | – | β | β | – |
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| COVID-19-associated myocarditis | β | β | – | β | β | β |
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Increased cardiac troponin level |
| COVID-19-associated myocardial infarction | β | β | – | β(Low-grade) | β/- | β/- |
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– |
Increased cardiac troponin levels |
| COVID-19-associated heart failure | β | – | β | – | β | β |
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Increased NT-proBNP and cardiac troponins levels |
| COVID-19-associated pneumonia | β | β (Pleuritic) | β | β (Usually high) | β | β |
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– | Increased inflammatory markers, including ESR, hs-CRP | ||
| COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome | β | – | β | β | β | β |
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– |
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– | |
| COVID-19-associated pulmonary embolism | β (Usually sudden-onset) | β (Pleuritic) | β (If massive PE) | β (Low-grade) | β | β |
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References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mounika Reddy Vadiyala, M.B.B.S.[2]
