The Post-Myocardial Infarction Syndrome

¹ The Department of Cardiology, "Evangelismos" Hospital.

In a retrospective study of 175 cases of myocardial infarction, ten typical cases and four atypical ones of post-myocardial infarction syndrome were found and described. In addition, three more cases presenting unexplained increase of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate many weeks after the infarction are presented. Two typical cases presented evidence of joint and peritoneal involvement apart from the pericardium. An atypical case presented an attack of shoulder periarthritis. In relation to these, the opinion is expressed that the shoulder periarthritis asociated with myocardial infarction must be considered as a form of the post-myocardial infarction syndrome. Findings supporting the view of the autosensitization nature of the syndrome are presented. The idea is put forward that unexplained increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate long after an acute myocardiai infarction is probably a monosymptomatic form of the post-myocardial infarction syndrome.