Which condition could be a potential cause of elevated jugular venous pressure (JVP)?

Elevated jugular venous pressure (JVP) is often indicative of increased central venous pressure, which can occur in various cardiac and systemic conditions. Constrictive pericarditis is a prime example of a condition that can lead to this phenomenon.

In constrictive pericarditis, the pericardium becomes thickened and fibrotic, restricting the heart's ability to expand and fill properly during diastole. This impaired filling leads to increased pressure in the right atrium and subsequently, elevated JVP. As the heart struggles to accommodate venous return due to the rigid pericardial sac, the increase in pressure is transmitted back to the systemic venous system, resulting in distended neck veins.

While other conditions like left-sided heart failure and mitral stenosis can also be associated with elevated JVP, they primarily affect the left side of the heart and are not the primary causes for the elevation of JVP compared to constrictive pericarditis. An aortic aneurysm typically does not directly affect JVP; it is more associated with complications involving blood vessels rather than central venous pressure alterations.

Thus, constrictive pericarditis stands out as a condition where elevated JVP is a direct