Electrocardiographic changes in acute perimyocarditis.
- Author:
Phong Teck LEE
1
;
Chai Keat SEE
;
Paul Toon Lim CHIAM
;
Soo Teik LIM
Author Information
1. Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre Singapore, 17 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168752. phongteck.lee@mohh.com.sg.
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- MeSH:
Acute Disease;
Aged;
Biopsy;
Blood Pressure;
Coronary Angiography;
Electrocardiography;
Female;
Humans;
Myocardial Infarction;
pathology;
Myocarditis;
diagnosis;
physiopathology
- From:Singapore medical journal
2015;56(1):e1-3
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Pericarditis and myocarditis are characterised by electrocardiographic changes and elevated cardiac enzymes, respectively, and patients with perimyocarditis often complain of chest discomfort. These findings are nonspecific and often lead to diagnostic difficulties, as ST-elevation myocardial infarction commonly presents in a similar fashion. Clinical differentiation between perimyocarditis and myocardial infarction are especially important because adverse side effects can occur if reperfusion therapy is administered for a patient with acute pericarditis or if a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is missed. We herein describe a case of perimyocarditis with ST elevation and raised cardiac markers, which led to two emergency coronary angiographies that were subsequently found to be normal. We include the three serial electrocardiographies (ECGs) performed to show the characteristic features of perimyocarditis and further discuss the importance of identifying typical and atypical ECG features of pericarditis.
