Review
The paradigm shift in corticosteroid therapy for idiopathic pericarditis: from high-dose regimens to precision therapy
E. Bizzi1, L. Serati2, L. Trotta3, A. Antonioli4, S. Paoletta5, A. Brucato6
- Department of Internal Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan, Italy. lisa.serati@asst-fbf-sacco.it
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
CER19986
2026 Vol.44, N°7
PI 1289, PF 1296
Review
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Received: 31/03/2026
Accepted : 21/05/2026
In Press: 07/07/2026
Published: 14/07/2026
Abstract
Idiopathic and recurrent pericarditis are increasingly recognised as autoinflammatory conditions driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome and interleukin-1 signalling. Despite this shift in understanding, the misuse of high-dose corticosteroids has often led to a ‘massacre of the innocents’, transforming acute events into chronic, steroid-dependent diseases. This narrative review analyses the evolution of corticosteroid use in pericarditis, emphasising the transition from aggressive loading doses to the low-dose, ‘rheumatological’ strategies codified in the 2025 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines. Evidence confirms that medium-dose prednisone (0.2–0.5 mg/kg/day), when integrated into triple therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine, reduces recurrence rates and iatrogenic toxicity compared to traditional high-dose regimens (1.0 mg/kg/day). A critical challenge remains the tapering process; rapid withdrawal triggers inflammatory rebounds, necessitating meticulous, long-lasting (months-years), C-reactive protein (CRP)-guided reductions as small as 5 to 1.25 mg every two to six weeks, similar to the tapering used in polymyalgia rheumatica. Chronic maintenance with low-dose prednisone (≤5 mg/day) may be considered in selected cases, with a good risk-benefit balance. The elderly usually require medium dosages (e.g. prednisone 12.5–25 mg), pregnant women no more than 10 mg, while children should avoid chronic corticosteroid therapy. CRP-negative cases may benefit from low doses (5 mg). Given the long-term duration of therapy, bone protection therapy is essential yet underutilised, while protonpump inhibitors should be used only for concomitant NSAIDs therapy. Corticosteroids are generally ineffective in chronic idiopathic pericardial effusions with normal CRP. In conclusion, modern management redefines corticosteroids as a precision tool rather than a blunt anti-inflammatory agent.
