Early pericarditis after acute myocardial infarction: A clinical echocardiographic study

Clinical and echocardiographic data were evaluated in 46 patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). M-mode echocardiogram was performed 24 and 72 h and 5 days after AMI. Early acute pericarditis (EAP) was clinically recognized in 19 (41%) patients. Pericardial effusion (PE) was detected in 29 (63%) patients. In 23 (50%) patients both anterior and posterior PE was observed, while in six (13%) patients PE was only posterior. An echocardiographic pattern consistent with localized fibrinous pericarditis was detected in 11 (24%) patients. Eighteen (95%) of 19 patients with EAP had PE, and only 11 (40%) of the patients without EAP had PE (p < .001). We conclude that PE is observed frequently after AMI and that the echocardiographic study can help in the diagnosis of EAP after AMI.