Electrocardiographic manifestations: Acute myopericarditis

Acute, or so-called "dry," myopericarditis occurs in the presence of diffus e inflammation of the pericardial sac and superficial epicardium from a mul titude of infectious and inflammatory processes. This inflammation results in a current of myocardial injury resulting from the epicardial irritation manifested by a number of electrocardiographic findings. Classically, the e lectrocardiographic changes have been described as an evolution through sev eral distinct stages involving ST segment elevation with PR segment depress ion, normalization of the ST segment abnormality with T wave inversion, and eventual normalization of the electrocardiogram over a period of days to s everal weeks. The following discussion focuses on the electrocardiographic manifestations of acute myopericarditis and includes findings useful in est ablishing the diagnosis as well as distinguishing the disease from other sy ndromes, particularly acute myocardial infarction, (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e Inc.