Houston Methodist Pericardial Disease Clinic

The Pericardial Disease Clinic, part of Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, offers advanced, multidisciplinary care for patients with recurrent or complex pericarditis and related conditions. Our experts combine state-of-the-art cardiac imaging, innovative treatments and access to international clinical trials to help patients recover from and prevent recurrence of pericardial disease.

 

Pericardial disease occurs when the thin, protective membrane around your heart — the pericardium — becomes inflamed, often causing chest pain and other symptoms that may be mistaken for a heart attack.

 

The condition can occur suddenly and last a short time (acute pericarditis), or it can develop gradually and persist over time (chronic constrictive pericarditis). Fortunately, pericardial disease is treatable with medications and other options.

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Why Choose Houston Methodist’s Pericardial Disease Clinic

The Pericardial Disease Clinic was established to meet a critical need in pericardial care. As the only dedicated program of its kind in Texas and neighboring states, we offer patients access to advanced solutions they can’t find anywhere else this close to home.

 

We bring together experts in cardiology, advanced heart failure, cardiac imaging, electrophysiology and cardiovascular surgery who collaborate to provide world-class expertise and patient-centered, comprehensive care.

 
We Are Leading Medicine

Innovation, expertise and compassion in every case

From diagnosis through recovery, our patients benefit from the latest science as well as a collaborative, individualized experience. Here’s how we are leading heart care:

 

  • Advanced Imaging Expertise – Cardiac MRI and specialized imaging to detect and monitor pericardial inflammation
  • New and Targeted Therapies – Access to medications not widely available elsewhere
  • Leaders in Clinical Trials – Participation in national and international studies testing next-generation treatments for pericardial disease
  • Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Care – Specialists across cardiology, cardiac surgery, imaging and other specialties working together for each patient
Innovative Research & Clinical Trials

Advancing the future of pericardial disease treatment

Houston Methodist is among a select group of hospitals nationwide actively enrolling patients in multiple clinical trials for pericarditis and related conditions.

 

These studies explore new medications and therapeutic approaches that aim to reduce recurrence and improve patient outcomes.

 

Patients at our clinic may qualify for enrollment in ongoing studies through the Department of Cardiology Research.

 

Explore Our Clinical Trials →

Our Pericardial Specialists
Led by Dr. Maan Malahfji, the Pericardial Disease Clinic offers access to leading cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, cardiac imaging specialists, cardiovascular anesthesiologists and nurses specializing in cardiac care, as well as state-of-the-art resources and technology. Each member of your care team leverages his or her unique expertise to offer a treatment plan tailored to your individual condition and unique needs.

Our Approach at the Pericardial Disease Clinic

At Houston Methodist, we understand that pericardial disease can be complex — and often, patients coming to our Pericardial Disease Clinic have struggled with recurring symptoms for some time. Our unique approach to treatment combines leading multidisciplinary expertise, world-class imaging capabilities, targeted testing and evidence-based therapies to address even the most challenging cases.

  • Pericardial Disease Symptoms

    Because pericardial disease can mimic other heart conditions, including heart attack, timely evaluation by specialists is essential. Common symptoms may include:

     

    • Sharp or burning chest pain that worsens when breathing or lying down
    • Chest pain that improves when leaning forward
    • Heart palpitations
    • Back, neck or shoulder pain
    • Shortness of breath
    • Fatigue, weakness or low-grade fever
    • Swelling in the abdomen, legs or feet
    • Cough

     

    If you’ve experienced repeated episodes of chest pain or pericarditis that hasn’t improved with treatment, our team can determine whether pericardial disease is the cause and create a personalized care plan.

  • Pericardial Conditions We Treat

    At the Pericardial Disease Clinic, our team provides focused care for patients who experience recurrent or relapsing pericarditis — cases where symptoms continue or return despite prior treatment. For these individuals in particular, specialized expertise is needed to accurately identify the cause of and tailor therapy for their condition. We treat the full spectrum of pericardial conditions, including:

     

    • Acute and relapsing pericarditis
    • Constrictive pericarditis
    • Effusive-constrictive pericarditis
    • Pericardial abscess, cysts or tumors
    • Pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart)
    • Pericardial tamponade and other rare complications
    • Post-surgical and post-procedure pericarditis

  • Advanced Imaging for Precise Diagnosis

    Accurate diagnosis is essential to successful treatment and optimal heart care. Our specialists use cutting-edge imaging technology to detect pericardial inflammation, assess heart function and monitor progress over time. Diagnostic tools include:

     

    • Cardiac MRI – The gold standard for evaluating pericardial inflammation, cardiac MRI provides detailed imaging to confirm diagnosis and track treatment response.
    • Echocardiography and CT Imaging – Identify changes in heart structure, fluid buildup or thickening of the pericardium.
    • Collaborative Evaluation – Each patient’s results are reviewed by cardiology, rheumatology and cardiac surgery experts to ensure a precise and comprehensive diagnosis.

     

    This combination of advanced imaging and expert interpretation allows us to pinpoint the underlying cause of symptoms and guide therapy with confidence.

  • Personalized Treatment Plans

    Our goal is to relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation and prevent recurrence — helping patients return to their regular daily activities with improved long-term heart health. Every patient receives a tailored treatment plan based on the cause and severity of their condition. Treatment may include:

     

    • Medication
      • Antibiotics – for bacterial or fungal causes
      • Anti-inflammatories – over-the-counter or prescription
      • Diuretics – for fluid buildup
      • Targeted therapy – such as immunomodulator injections
    • Surgical care
      • Pericardial window – fluid buildup removed by a small chest incision
      • Pericardiectomy – pericardium fully removed by open-heart surgery
      • Pericardiocentesis – fluid buildup removed by catheter
    • Clinical trial enrollment – access to new medications and therapies through Houston Methodist’s ongoing cardiology research
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