MYOCARDIAL INVOLVEMENT IN ACUTE NONSPECIFIC PERICARDITIS: A REPORT OF THREE CASES

Abstract

Acute nonspecific pericarditis has been described as a benign disease without serious sequelae. Evidence is reviewed indicating that the ecg. changes occurring in pericarditis of any etiology are due to the involvement of a strip of sub-epicardium. Since the myocardium is involved to some extent in any case of pericarditis showing changes in the electrocardiogram, it is postulated that involvement may be extensive enough in some instances to produce clinical manifestations. Three cases are reported in which there was clinical and ecg. evidence of myocardial involvement, for seven months, one year and two and one-half years,respectively, after the onset of acute nonspecific pericarditis. It is concluded that significant, and perhaps permanent, myocardial involvement may be seen in acute nonspecific pericarditis.