[Pericarditis in acute myocardial infarct]

The incidence, diagnostics and significance of pericarditis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were studied, depending on some factors - sex and age of the patients and site of infarction in four patients groups and deceased: I-132 deceased with AMI abd cardiac rupture; II 337 deceased with AMI, 46 of them with aneurysms; III-334 deceased and 153 patients with subendocardial infarction and IV - 140 patients with AMI. Pericarditis was diagnosed in 8.1 per cent of the patients with AMI, in 16.6 per cent of the deceased with AMI and aneurysms, in 24,2 per cent of those with cardiac rupture and very rarely in the deceased with subendocardial infarction. It is more frequent in males, with anterior infarction and in the younger subjects. Pericardial friction occurred on 2-3 day, localized behind the sternum and in IV left intercostal space, whereas in posterior infarction - a little below. Pain is an important sign of pericarditis. imposing a very careful search of pericardial friction. ECG signs of acute pericarditis are not very often. The presence of pericarditis suggests a possibility of aneurysm formation, manifestation of cardiac insufficiency, increases the probability of cardiac rupture and mortality rate is greater with pericardial complications, hence it is an unfavourable prognostic sign.