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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffPericardial effusion symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- Shortness of breath when lying down (orthopnea)
- Chest pain, usually behind the breastbone or on the left side of the chest
- Cough
- Painful breathing, especially when inhaling or lying down
- Fainting or dizziness
- Low-grade fever
- Rapid heart rate
- Overall sense of fatigue or weakness
You can have significant pericardial effusion and experience no signs or symptoms, particularly if the fluid has increased slowly. This is more common when the cause of pericardial effusion is cancer or a chronic inflammatory disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
When to see a doctor
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you feel chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes, if your breathing is difficult or painful, or if you have an unexplained fainting spell. If you experience shortness of breath, fatigue or other symptoms of pericardial effusion, see your doctor.
- Little WC, et al. Pericardial disease. Circulation. 2006;113(12):1622-1632.
- Cardiopulmonary syndromes (PDQ®): Malignant pericardial effusion. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/cardiopulmonary/HealthProfessional. Accessed Nov. 1, 2008.
- Martin M, et al. Pericardial disease. In: Libby P, et al., eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/108738632-2/0/1549/0.html. Accessed Oct. 29, 2008.
- Khunnawat C, et al. Cardiovascular manifestations in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. American Journal of Cardiology. 2008;102(5):635-642.
- Maisch B, et al. Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases executive summary: The task force on the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases of the European Society of Cardiology. European Heart Journal. 2004;25(7):587-610.
- Ristic AD, et al. Management of pericardial effusion: The role of echocardiography in establishing the indications and the selection of the approach for drainage. Herz. 2005;30(2):144-150.
