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Acute pericarditis presenting with sinus bradycardia: a case report
A T Gosselink1, M P van den Berg, H J Crijns
1Department of Cardiology/Thoraxcenter, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
International Journal of Cardiology
|August 8, 1997
Summary
Acute pericarditis typically causes sinus tachycardia. However, this case highlights acute pericarditis presenting with sinus bradycardia, likely from a vasovagal response to chest pain, challenging typical diagnostic assumptions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
- Clinical Presentation
Background:
- Acute pericarditis is commonly linked with sinus tachycardia, a rapid heart rate.
- Sinus bradycardia, a slow heart rate, in patients with recent chest pain usually suggests acute ischemic syndromes.
Observation:
- This case report details a patient experiencing acute pericarditis.
- The patient's initial presentation included sinus bradycardia, an unusually slow heart rhythm.
Findings:
- The bradycardia was likely a vasovagal response triggered by the chest pain associated with acute pericarditis.
- This presentation deviates from the typical association of acute pericarditis with tachycardia.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider acute pericarditis in patients presenting with sinus bradycardia and chest pain.
- This finding broadens the differential diagnosis for chest pain presentations, especially when bradycardia is present.
- Recognizing atypical presentations is crucial for accurate and timely diagnosis of acute pericarditis.