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.