Dressler's Syndrome

Last updated by Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy
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This is a late-onset post-myocardial infarction pericarditis, usually occurring one to six weeks after the initial event, although it can be delayed for as long as three months. See also the separate Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Acute Pericarditis articles.

Dressler's syndrome was first described in 1956. It is characterised by pleuritic chest pain, low-grade fever and pericarditis (autopsy shows localised fibrinous pericarditis), which may be accompanied by pericardial effusion. It tends to follow a benign clinical course. It is thought to be immune-mediated (anti-myocardial antibodies may be present, although it is not known whether these are the cause of the syndrome or occur as a result of it.[1] ). The reported incidence has been declining in recent years

It is one of a heterogeneous group of conditions collectively known as post-cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS), which together represent a leading cause of pericarditis.[2] PCIS includes Dressler's syndrome (late-onset pericarditis following myocardial infarction (MI)), early-onset pericarditis following MI, post-cardiotomy syndrome and post-traumatic pericarditis. Post-pericardiotomy syndrome has been observed after cardiac surgery, percutaneous intervention, pacemaker implantation, radiofrequency ablation and pulmonary vein isolation.[3, 4]

The original paper by Dressler in 1956 suggested an incidence of 3-4% of all cases of acute MI.[5] It is now much rarer, probably due to reperfusion methods of management of an acute MI, occurring in fewer than 1% of cases, with some studies suggesting it has disappeared altogether.[2, 6, 7] The reduction may be due to the fact that active intervention reduces the size of the infarct and therefore the area of damaged myocardium.

Risk factors[1]

If a person has had a previous episode, it is more likely to recur. It seems more likely to occur after a large infarct. Other risk factors which have been suggested include viral infections, younger age, prior treatment with prednisone, B negative blood type, and use of halothane anaesthesia.[1]

  • It usually presents one to six weeks after the initial episode of MI, with pain and fever that may suggest further infarction.
  • The pain is the main symptom, often in the left shoulder, often pleuritic, and worse on lying down.
  • There may be malaise, fever and dyspnoea.
  • Rarely, it may cause cardiac tamponade or acute pneumonitis.
  • A pericardial friction rub may be heard. The typical sound of pericarditis is described as like the sound of boots walking over fresh snow.

The pain may initially suggest a further episode of angina or MI. Pleuritic chest pain may also suggest pneumonia or pulmonary embolism.

  • FBC will show leukocytosis, sometimes with eosinophilia and an elevated ESR/CRP.
  • Serology may show heart autoantibodies.
  • Blood cultures will help in excluding an infectious cause of pericarditis.
  • ECG usually shows ST elevation in most leads with or without reciprocal ST depression.
  • Echocardiography shows pericardial effusion and helps to exclude other causes for symptoms.
  • MRI scan may show an effusion where this is difficult to assess by echocardiography.
  • CXR may be normal or may show pleural effusions, parenchymal opacities, or an enlarged cardiac silhouette.
  • Aspirin may be given in large doses, 750-1000 mg eight-hourly for two weeks before tapering down. Monitoring of renal and cardiac function, and consideration of co-prescription of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are recommended.
  • Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in some cases, or corticosteroids may be used if symptoms are refractory or recurrent, or if NSAIDs are contra-indicated. Steroids are particularly valuable where severe symptoms have required pericardiocentesis, and when infection has been excluded.
  • Colchicine in addition to NSAID helps to prevent recurrence and improve response, or may be useful when aspirin is contra-indicated.[10]
  • If there is significant pericardial effusion then pericardiocentesis, involving aspiration of the fluid, may be required to relieve the constriction on the heart.
  • Pleuritic pain may be associated with pleurisy and pleural effusion.
  • Significant pericardial effusion can cause cardiac tamponade.[11]
  • Inflammation can result in constrictive pericarditis.

It can follow a relapsing course but the outcome is usually favourable, depending on the nature and severity of co-existing heart disease. Response to treatment is generally good within two weeks. Follow-up with echocardiogram is advised - for example, at one and three years, due to the risk of pericardial constriction.[2]

Prevention is no longer needed now that modern management of myocardial infarction has resulted in a reduction in the incidence of this syndrome.

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Further reading and references

  • Ubaid S, Demetriades P, Luckraz H, et al; Dressler's syndrome diagnosed during surgery: lessons to be learned. Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2020 Nov 244(6):1-2. doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytaa409. eCollection 2020 Dec.

  • Patel ZK, Shah MS, Bharucha R, et al; Post-cardiac Injury Syndrome Following Permanent Dual-Chamber Pacemaker Implantation. Cureus. 2022 Jan 3014(1):e21737. doi: 10.7759/cureus.21737. eCollection 2022 Jan.

  • Taywade S, Gupta T, Kumar R, et al; FDG PET/CT in Dressler Syndrome. Clin Nucl Med. 2023 Sep 148(9):e449-e451. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000004754. Epub 2023 Jun 23.

  1. Foris LA, Khaddour K; Dressler Syndrome

  2. Post-cardiac injury syndrome: aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment; Sasse T and Eriksson U, E-journal of cardiology practice of the European Society of Cardiology. Oct 2017

  3. Tamarappoo BK, Klein AL; Post-pericardiotomy Syndrome. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2016 Nov18(11):116. doi: 10.1007/s11886-016-0791-0.

  4. Luckie M, Jenkins NP, Davidson NC, et al; Dressler's syndrome following pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation. Acute Card Care. 200810(4):234-5.

  5. Dressler W; A post-myocardial infarction syndrome preliminary report of a complication resembling idiopathic, recurrent, benign pericarditis.

  6. Bendjelid K, Pugin J; Is Dressler syndrome dead? Chest. 2004 Nov

  7. Aten K, Raney K, Alomar A; Dressler Syndrome: Not Just a Relic of the Past. Cureus. 2022 Oct 2514(10):e30670. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30670. eCollection 2022 Oct.

  8. Campos ID, Salgado A, Azevedo P, et al; Dressler's syndrome: are we underdiagnosing what we think to be rare? BMJ Case Rep. 2019 May 2112(5):e227772. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-227772.

  9. Adler Y, Charron P, Imazio M, et al; 2015 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases: The Task Force for the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)Endorsed by: The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). Eur Heart J. 2015 Nov 736(42):2921-2964. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv318. Epub 2015 Aug 29.

  10. Nomoto F, Suzuki S, Hashizume N, et al; A case of Dressler's syndrome successfully treated with colchicine and acetaminophen. J Cardiol Cases. 2020 Nov 2123(3):131-135. doi: 10.1016/j.jccase.2020.10.019. eCollection 2021 Mar.

  11. Connaire S, Elchinova E, Bucciarelli-Ducci C, et al; Cardiac tamponade secondary to Dressler's syndrome. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Aug 1114(8):e243577. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2021-243577.

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