[Secondary pericarditis after myocardial infarction (author's transl)]

Our study concerns 480 observations about myocardial infarctions. In 10% of the cases, we have found a premature pericarditis diagnosed on the pericardic friction, electric and biologic signes. Some complications such as rythmical troubles, left ventricular dificiency, parietal anevrism are more frequent and increase the prognosis. In 1,2% of the cases, we find a post-infarction syndrom of Dressler, the prognosis of which is mild. The diagnosis is founded on the revival of the thoracic pain, the fever, the pericarditis and an inflammatory syndrom. The corticothérapy is efficient but seems to favour relapses.