Regional pericarditis: a review of the pericardial manifestations of acute myocardial infarction.

Regional pericarditis has been described in several settings, but occurs most frequently after transmural myocardial infarction. While the diagnosis remains elusive, it must be considered in all patients with recurrent chest pain following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Pericarditis classically presents with positional chest pain, a pericardial friction rub, diffuse ST-segment elevation, and PR depression, but regional ECG changes associated with infarction-associated pericarditis sometimes exist. Given the magnitude and frequency of AMI, it is imperative to be aware of the myriad of pericardial manifestations of myocardial injury. An illustrative case and a comprehensive review of the literature will be provided. Copyright (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.