To Help an Achy Heart: Management of Pericarditis Alicia Ridgewell Pharmacy Resident 2011/12

Objectives Explain basic pathophysiology of acute pericarditis Be able to list 3 different causes of pericarditis Become familiar with 3 treatment options for idiopathic/viral pericarditis

Our Patient: DM IDDM, 45 year old male; 75 kg Admitted Sept. 24th CC2-3 day hx of fever and increasing chest pain (feels like knife through rib cage, radiating to shoulders), interferes with work; 10/10 without medication HPIJuly 2011, was admitted for chest pain; small pericardial effusion Dx: pericarditis, D/C on ibuprofen DXCXR on admission  small pericardial effusion and pleural effusion: Recurrent pericarditis CXR also shows atelectasis of left lower lobe: ?pneumonia PMHxIBS – constipation predominate

Patient Case Fam HxNot remarkable SHxNo alcohol or RDU Smokes 1-2 cigarettes/day (no interest in quitting) Married; works at sawmill Vaccine Hx Allergies No flu or pneumococcal vaccinations Penicillin – anaphylaxis (30 yrs ago) MPTA-Ibuprofen 400mg (4 tablets at a time – half a bottle in a day) -Oral sodium phosphate once per month

Review of Systems: Sept. 27th VitalsTemp:35 6, HR: 74(reg), BP: 101/62, RR: 16, O 2 sat 95 (RA) CNSNot remarkable HEENTNot remarkable RESPNot remarkable; pain in chest when breaths deeply CVSChest pain when lying down (better if sitting up) GI/GUGas/bloating - constipated MSK/DERMNot remarkable LABS  WBC 9.9,  Hgb 109, SrCr 63 (stable) blood culture neg. at 48hr

Patient Case Medical ConditionMedications in hospital ?LL pneumoniaAzithromycin 500mg IV daily (day 4) Cefuroxime 750mg IV q8hr (day 4) PericarditisIndomethacin 50mg po BID Stomach protectionPantoprazole 40 mg po daily Sucralfate 1g po QID PainHydromorphone 5mg po/IV/SubQ q3hr prn Constipation/abdominal discomfort Bowel protocol prn Fleet enema daily prn Buscopan 10mg IV daily prn

Drug Related Problems DM is experiencing continued pericarditis pain secondary to suboptimal therapy DM is experiencing unresolved constipation secondary to not receiving regular treatment DM is at risk of continued constipation secondary to narcotic analgesia DM is at risk of experiencing adverse effects secondary to receiving unnecessary therapy (sucralfate, buscopan)

Goals of Therapy Prevent mortality Prevent complications – e.g. cardiac tamponade Relieve/reduce pain Resolve pericarditis Prevent recurrence Minimize adverse effects from medications

Pericarditis Pathophysiology Illustration from URL

Viral Pericarditis Coxsackievirus A & B, influenza virus, mumps, herpes simplex, CMV, epstein- barr Previous viral infection – e.g. respiratory tract infection Can occur in all ages but usually young adults Simultaneous development of fever and precordial pain 10 – 12 days after a viral illness

Acute Pericarditis Symptoms Chest pain: acute, severe, retrosternal, precordial; refers to neck and shoulders – Pleuritic: sharp; aggravated by inspiration, coughing, changes in body position Audible friction rub Modest increase in trops and CK Diffuse ST-segment elevations Complications: pericardial effusion  cardiac tamponade; arrhythmias

Treatment options Target underlying cause if possible For viral or idiopathic pericarditis: – NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin, indomethacin, ketorolac) – Colchicine – Glucocorticoids e.g. prednisone

PICO In a 45 year old male with recurrent pericarditis, what is the evidence for use of colchicine in combination with NSAID therapy?

Literature Search Up-to-date: reference list Pubmed. Search terms used: – Pericarditis – Colchicine – NSAIDs Highest level of evidence: 2 RCT, open label – CORE and COPE

Evidence: CORE 3 DesignProspective, open label randomized trial PAdults (≥18yrs), 1 st episode of recurrent pericarditis, previous viral or idiopathic pericarditis, no contraindication to colchicine I/CGroup 1: Aspirin 800mg po q 6-8 hrs x 7-10 days (3-4 week taper) Group 2: Aspirin at same dose + colchicine 1-2mg day 1 then 0.5-1mg daily x 6 months OPrimary: recurrence rate; secondary: symptoms persistence 72 hours after treatment onset

Evidence: CORE results Recurrence Rates % (at 18 months) Symptom Persistence beyond 72 hr (%) Adverse Drug Reactions Serious adverse events Group 1: 50.6 Group 2: 24 P = 0.02 ARR = 26.6% Group 1: 31 Group 2: 10 P= 0.03 Group 1: 6 pts Group 2: 3 pts (all 3 pts reported diarrhea – d/c therapy) None reported Limitations: patients unable to take aspirin allowed to use prednisone; open label

Evidence: COPE 4 DesignProspective, open label randomized trial PAdults (≥18yrs), 1 st episode of acute pericarditis (due to viral, idiopathic, autoimmune causes), no contraindication to colchicine I/CGroup 1: Aspirin 800mg po q 6-8 hrs x 7-10 days (3-4 week taper) Group 2: Aspirin at same dose + colchicine 1-2mg day 1 then 0.5-1mg daily x 3 months OPrimary: recurrence rate; secondary: symptoms persistence 72 hours after treatment onset

Evidence: COPE results Recurrence Rates % (at 18 months) Symptom Persistence beyond 72 hr (%) Adverse Drug Reactions Serious adverse events Aspirin: 23.5 Aspirin + colchicine: 8.8 Pred: 86.7 Pred + colchicine: 11.1 P < Group 1: 36.7 Group 2: 11.7 P= Group 1: 4 pts (abd pain, dyspepsia) Group 2: 5 pts (all 5 pts reported diarrhea – d/c therapy) None reported Limitations: did not report subgroups for secondary outcome or ADR; open label

Alternatives 1) Increase indomethacin 50 mg po TID 2) Add colchicine 0.6mg po BID 3) D/C indomethacin – Aspirin 650mg po q6hr daily + colchicine 0.6 po BID 4) D/C indomethacin – Aspirin monotherapy 5) D/C indomethacin – Prednisone 0.5 – 1 mg/kg/day + colchicine 6) D/C indomethacin – Prednisone

Recommendations Increase indomethacin to TID + addition of colchicine 0.6mg po BID – No improvement in 72hr  d/c indomethacin, start aspirin D/C hydromorphone Other suggestions: – Abx step-down – D/C buscopan, fleet enema, sucralfate – Lactulose 30 mL po daily x 2 days – Docusate sodium 200mg po daily

Pharmacist Monitoring Plan for Recommendation ParameterDegree of ChangeFrequency Chest pain (PQRST)ResolutionDaily Vitals: Temp, HR, BP, RR ElevationDaily SE: N/V/DPresenceDaily SE: Abdominal pain/cramping PresenceDaily Renal function  SrCr >20%2x/week Bleeding  Hgb blood in stools or urine 2x/week

Patient Update Sept. 27 th  therapy adjusted (indomethacin increased + colchicine added) Sept. 28 th  Patient left AMA – Did not take discharge prescription (no therapy continued)

Questions?

References 1). MD consult. Elsevier Available from URL: Accessed: Oct. 2, ). Imazio M, LeWinter MM, Downey BC. Treatment of acute pericarditis. Up-to- Date Accessed Sept. 27, 2011www.uptodate.com 3). Imazio M, Bobbio M et al. Colchicine as First-Choice Therapy for Recurrent Pericarditis: Results of the CORE trial. Arch Intern Med.2005;165: ). Imazio M, Bobbio M et al. Colchicine in Addition to Conventional Therapy for Acute Pericarditis: Results of the COPE trial. Circulation.2005;112: ). Maisch B, Seferovic PM et al. Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of pericardial diseases. European Heart Journal.2004;25: ). Fauci AS et al. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 17 th ed. McGraw Hill Medical. New York p ). Lange RA, Hillis LD. Acute Pericarditis. N Engl J Med.2004;351: ). Imazio M, Brucato A et al. Medical therapy of pericardial diseases Part 1: Idiopathic and infectious pericarditis. J Cardiovasc Med. 2010;11:712-22