Dressler's syndrome occurs after which cardiac event?

• A. Angina pectoris
• B. Aortic dissection
• C. Myocardial infarction
• D. Pulmonary embolism

Answer: (C)

Dressler's syndrome is an autoimmune-mediated pericarditis that occurs after myocardial injury, most classically weeks after a myocardial infarction. After the heart tissue is damaged, myocardial antigens circulate and trigger an immune response that inflames the pericardium. This leads to pleuritic chest pain, fever, and sometimes a pericardial effusion with a friction rub and elevated inflammatory markers. While it can occur after other kinds of cardiac injury, the classic trigger is a myocardial infarction, not events like angina, aortic dissection, or pulmonary embolism. Treatment typically involves anti-inflammatory therapy such as NSAIDs (often aspirin) and sometimes colchicine; steroids are reserved for refractory cases.