Pericarditis - After Heart Attack
Alternate Names : Dressler's Syndrome, Post-Cardiac Injury Syndrome, Postcardiotomy Pericarditis, Post-MI Pericarditis
Definition Pericarditis is an inflammation and swelling of the pericardium (the sac-like covering of the heart), which can occur in the days or weeks following a heart attack.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Pericarditis may occur within 2 to 5 days after a heart attack (acute MI), or it may occur as much as 11 weeks later. The condition is called Dressler's syndrome when it persists for weeks or months after a heart attack. Pericarditis can also be caused by open heart surgery, stab wounds to the heart and blunt chest trauma. It may involve repeated episodes of symptoms.
Pericarditis occuring shortly after a heart attack is caused by the inflammatory response to blood in the pericardial sac or by the presence of dead or severely damaged tissue in the heart muscle. During the period of inflammation, the immune system tries to clean up the heart after injury, but it can sometimes go too far and attack healthy cells by mistake. Pain occurs when the inflamed pericardium rubs on the heart.
Early pericarditis complicates 7% to 10% of heart attacks. Dressler's syndrome is seen in only 1% of patients after heart attack. Risks include previous heart attack, open heart surgery, or chest trauma.
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