Overview

Dressler's syndrome is a type of pericarditis — inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium). Dressler's syndrome is believed to be an immune system response after damage to heart tissue or to the pericardium, from events such as a heart attack, surgery or traumatic injury. Symptoms include chest pain, which may be similar to chest pain experienced during a heart attack.

Dressler's syndrome may also be called postpericardiotomy syndrome, postmyocardial infarction syndrome and post-cardiac injury syndrome.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms

Symptoms are likely to appear weeks to months after a heart attack, surgery or injury to the chest. Symptoms might include:

• Chest pain
• Fever

When to see a doctor

Seek emergency care for persistent chest pain, which may indicate a recurring heart attack or other disorder.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Causes

Dressler's syndrome is associated with an immune system response to heart damage. Your body reacts to the injured tissue by sending immune cells and proteins (antibodies) to clean up and repair the affected area. Sometimes this response causes excessive inflammation in the pericardium.

Postpericardiotomy syndrome is a well-known complication that may occur after heart surgery.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Diagnosis

Your doctor will conduct a thorough physical examination, including listening to your heart with a stethoscope. Certain characteristic sounds can indicate that your pericardium is inflamed or that fluid has accumulated around your heart.

Your doctor might then recommend tests, such as:

• Echocardiogram. Sound waves produce an image of your heart, helping your doctor to see if fluid is collecting around it.
• Electrocardiogram. Electrical impulses in your heart are recorded through wires attached to your skin. Certain changes in the electrical impulses can indicate pressure on your heart. But electrocardiogram readings may be abnormal after heart surgery, so your doctor likely won't rely on this one test for a diagnosis of Dressler's syndrome.
• Chest X-ray. An X-ray can help detect fluid building up around the heart or lungs and can help exclude other causes of your symptoms, such as pneumonia.
• Blood tests. The results of certain tests can indicate inflammatory activity that's consistent with Dressler's syndrome.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Complications

The immune system response that leads to Dressler's syndrome might also cause fluid to accumulate in the membranes around your lungs (pleural effusion).

Rarely, Dressler's syndrome can cause more-serious complications, including:

• Cardiac tamponade. Inflammation of the pericardium can cause fluids to accumulate in the sac (pericardial effusion). The fluid can put pressure on the heart, forcing it to work harder and reducing its ability to pump blood efficiently.
• Constrictive pericarditis. Recurring or chronic inflammation can cause the pericardium to become thick or scarred. The scarring can reduce the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently.