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patients with pericarditis/myopericarditis underwent peri-cardiocentesis, pericardioscopy (Storz-AF1101B1), and epi-cardial biopsy with pericardial fluid and tissue analyses. By polymerase chain reaction for cardiotropic viruses/bacteria in pericardial effusion and epicardial biopsies as well as by 2 (P<0·05). Conclusion Intrapericardial treatment of autoreactive pericarditis with 300 mg. m2. 24 h1 of triamcinolone prevented recurrence of symptoms and relapse of effusion as effectively as the 600 mg. m2. 24 h1 regimen, but majority of acute and chronic/recurrent pericarditis cases remains unresolved[1,2]. Many of these idiopathic always considerable side effects. Pericardiectomy must be considered as the last treatment option, due to itscases will represent either viral infections or auto-reactive pericarditis, however. In virus-positive effu-sions any form of corticosteroid treatment is contra-indicated. In autoreactive effusions, colchicine has been shown to be efficacious[3]. However, a substantial potential risks and the discomfort caused to patients by sternotomy and the haemodynamic consequences of cardiac stiffness. In patients with chronic autoreactive pericardial effusions, intrapericardial instillation of crystalloid glucocorticoids could avoid systemic side effects, while still allowing high local dose application. This concept has proven its long-term efficacy in our pilot studies[4,5]. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety and long-term effect of intrapericardial treatment with two dosage regimens of the crystalloid corticosteroid triamcinolone