Clinical course: | |
Symptom duration (years, median) | 5, range 1–22 |
Relapses/year | 1.8±1, range 1–5 |
Hospital admissions | 3±2, range 1–9 |
Follow-up (years), median | 8, range 1–43 |
New York Heart Association at last follow-up, n (%) | I, 39 (98%); II, 1 (2%) |
Two-dimensional echocardiography (last follow-up): | |
Mean end-diastolic diameter (mm) | 48±3 |
Mean end-diastolic septal thickness (mm) | 10±1 |
Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (%) | 62±4 |
Treatment at any time of follow-up, n, (%): | 40 (100) |
Steroids | 34 (85) |
Colchicine | 34 (85) |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | 40 (100) |
Immunosuppressant agents*, pericardiocentesis and/or pericardiectomy | 7 (17) |
Treatment at last follow-up, n (%): | 21 (52) |
Steroids | 16 (40) |
Colchicine | 17 (42) |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | 13 (32) |
Any drug combination | 16 (40) |
↵* Azathioprine (n=3); methotrexate and prednisone (n=2); ciclosporin A and prednisone (n=2).