Dressler’ syndrome

= delayed pericarditis (one week to one month) after an acute myocardial infarction or cardiac trauma

Symptoms:

- chest pain – usually pleuritic in nature

- low-grade fever

- shortness of breath

Signs:

- pericardial friction rub

- in severe cases associated with a large pericardial effusion – muffled heart sounds, signs of pericardial tamponade – tachycardia, hypotension, elevated JVP; electrical alternans on ECG

Treatment is usually with aspirin; in more severe cases, steroids or colchicine can be used. If a significant pericardial effusion is present, they need pericardiocentesis.