Dressler Syndrome: Not Just a Relic of the Past

Dressler syndrome, also known as post-myocardial infarction syndrome, is a condition in which sterile pericarditis develops shortly after myocardial injury. It is characterized by pericardial inflammation typically including pericardial effusion, pleuritic chest pain, and elevated inflammatory markers. While its incidence has greatly decreased in the modern era of coronary revascularization, it remains a clinically important entity with the potential for serious morbidity. Here we present a case of presumed Dressler syndrome in a 54-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with a recurrence of chest pain and clinical signs of pericarditis after sustaining an anterior myocardial infarction two weeks previously.