During which phase of rheumatic pericarditis would fibrosis and adhesions potentially occur?

Fibrosis and adhesions in rheumatic pericarditis are most likely to develop during the chronic phase of the condition. This phase is characterized by prolonged inflammation and can result in long-term changes in the pericardium. In the chronic phase, the ongoing inflammatory process may lead to scarring and fibrosis, which means that the tissues can become thickened and less flexible. Adhesions, which are abnormal bands of fibrous tissue that can form between the pericardium and surrounding structures, can also occur due to this chronic inflammation.

The other phases might involve acute inflammatory processes, but they typically do not result in the same degree of tissue damage and scarring seen in the chronic phase. The initial phase focuses on the onset of inflammation, while the stable phase indicates a period where symptoms might not change significantly but are still under the influence of inflammation. The final phase could imply resolution or advanced changes in the heart, yet it’s specifically during the chronic stage that the structural changes associated with fibrosis and adhesions are most prominent.