Pericardial effusion complicating acute myocardial infarction.

: The acute fibrinous pericarditis that complicates acute myocardial infarction is usually of no functional significance. Uncommonly, hemorrhagic effusion may compound this process. In the case reported here, the pericardial aspect of acute lateral myocardial infarction dominated the clinical picture, thus posing a diagnostic problem. This phase of the disease stimulates us to place it on record.