Postmyocardial Infarction Syndrome

The postmyocardial infarction syndrome has been reported to occur in about 3 percent of cases of acute myocardial infarction. This syndrome is characterized by pericarditis, pleuritis, pneumonitis, prolonged or recurrent fever, and pleural or pericardia pain, or both. Pericardial effusion also is frequently observed.It is important to differentiate this syndrome from the more common complications of myocardial infarction in order that proper therapy may be instituted.The authors report five cases of this syndrome; corticosteroid therapy produced favorable effects in three cases.