The Pericardial Space: Can it be Leveraged for Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Purposes?

There is evidence supporting the importance of local immune microenvironment with respect to physiological and pathological states. Cardiac fibrosis, post-operative atrial fibrillation, and post-surgical pericardial adhesions are the culmination of complex cascade of processes, many of which have immune-mediated etiologies. While extensive research has focused on describing the systemic markers, to date, little attention has been given to local pericardial factors that can impact fibrotic activity and/or lead to POAF and PSPA. The pericardial space and its contents can play an important role in the pathophysiology of these complications.