What echocardiographic finding is described in pericarditis?

What echocardiographic finding is described in pericarditis?

• A. Global hypokinesia
• B. Left atrial enlargement
• C. Pericardial effusion
• D. Rapid filling during diastole that halts

Answer: (D)

Pericardial constriction creates a noncompressible, stiff outer shell around the heart, so diastolic filling happens in two phases: a rapid early diastolic inflow that quickly meets the rigid rim and then halts, producing a plateau in filling. On echocardiography this manifests as a swift early diastolic inflow that can be interrupted by the pericardial constraint, with other signs like septal bounce and notable respiratory variation. This specific diastolic filling pattern — rapid early filling followed by sudden limitation — captures the effect of a noncompliant pericardium on the ventricle, which is why it’s the best description here. Global hypokinesia would point to poor myocardial contraction, not pericardial restriction. Left atrial enlargement reflects chronic pressure/volume changes of the left heart, not the diastolic filling pattern caused by a constricting pericardium. Pericardial effusion is common in pericarditis but describes fluid, not the diastolic filling dynamics produced by constrictive physiology.

Pericardial constriction creates a noncompressible, stiff outer shell around the heart, so diastolic filling happens in two phases: a rapid early diastolic inflow that quickly meets the rigid rim and then halts, producing a plateau in filling. On echocardiography this manifests as a swift early diastolic inflow that can be interrupted by the pericardial constraint, with other signs like septal bounce and notable respiratory variation. This specific diastolic filling pattern — rapid early filling followed by sudden limitation — captures the effect of a noncompliant pericardium on the ventricle, which is why it’s the best description here.

Global hypokinesia would point to poor myocardial contraction, not pericardial restriction. Left atrial enlargement reflects chronic pressure/volume changes of the left heart, not the diastolic filling pattern caused by a constricting pericardium. Pericardial effusion is common in pericarditis but describes fluid, not the diastolic filling dynamics produced by constrictive physiology.