Dressler's Syndrome as a Late Complication of Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report

Dressler's syndrome, a rare complication of myocardial infarction, is a form of secondary pericarditis that typically develops within one to six weeks following the infarction. In this report, we present a case of a 68-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Dressler's syndrome after nine weeks from acute coronary syndrome. The patient first presented with an ill-tolerated episode of atrial fibrillation. Based on clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, accompanied by a history of respiratory tract infections, an infection of an unknown origin was initially suspected. Lack of response to the applied treatment prompted the suspicion of Dressler's syndrome. This was followed by a cardiac MRI, which showed features of pericarditis. The patient responded well to a seven-day treatment with ibuprofen and was discharged home in good general condition.