Dressler Syndrome

Dressler syndrome is a delayed, immune-mediated pericarditis that occurs after myocardial infarction, usually weeks after the initial cardiac injury.

In this episode, Chris and Mars review:

• Dressler syndrome versus early post-MI pericarditis
• Why timing is the key shelf clue
• Positional pleuritic chest pain, friction rub, fever, and pericardial effusion
• How to distinguish pericarditis from recurrent myocardial ischemia
• Why aspirin is preferred after myocardial infarction
• The role of colchicine
• Pericardial effusion, tamponade, recurrence, and constrictive pericarditis

Episode pearl: Pericarditis within days of an MI is usually local inflammation. Pericarditis several weeks later suggests the immune-mediated process of Dressler syndrome.

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