“Was my MI misdiagnosed as pericarditis?”
I went to the ED a while back for flu-like symptoms and fever after a surgery. They admitted me due to elevated troponin levels (243) and tachycardia at rest (118bpm). I had an EKG, echo, and chest xray, but was only told they looked "fine". I was eventually discharged with the one word diagnosis "pericarditis," no meds, and no explanation or plan other than to follow up with my PCP.
At my follow-up, I was told I had an enlarged heart and decreased ejection fraction, and that we'd "keep an eye on it." Nothing has been mentioned since and there was no elaboration.
Anything more than general getting around has my heart rate shooting up to the 140s and leaves me exhausted. I've been having palpitations; my heart skips beats and I get a fluttery, empty feeling in my chest that leaves me lightheaded. Is it possible I had a heart attack that was missed? I've read heart attacks and pericarditis can read similarly on EKGs.
At my follow-up, I was told I had an enlarged heart and decreased ejection fraction, and that we'd "keep an eye on it." Nothing has been mentioned since and there was no elaboration.
Anything more than general getting around has my heart rate shooting up to the 140s and leaves me exhausted. I've been having palpitations; my heart skips beats and I get a fluttery, empty feeling in my chest that leaves me lightheaded. Is it possible I had a heart attack that was missed? I've read heart attacks and pericarditis can read similarly on EKGs.
Male | 36 years old
Complaint duration: 8 months
Medications: lisinopril 10mg
Conditions: high blood pressure, obesity, high triglycerides, prediabetes
1 Answer
The short answer is yes however it is very unlikely.
there are some similarities between EKG of pericarditis and heart attack but usually it can be differentiated.
Also, there are many other markers, tests, signs and symptoms that differentiate between both.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the covering of the heart, which sometimes give similar symptoms.
if you had an enlarged heart and decreased ejection fraction during your follow up, you probably had myocarditis which is inflammation of the heart muscle itself rather than pericarditis, in most cases both recover completely however myocarditis leading to decrease in ejection fraction require to be on some medications for certain period till your heart recover.
Again, there are few tests and blood work to confirm any of these conditions.
there are some similarities between EKG of pericarditis and heart attack but usually it can be differentiated.
Also, there are many other markers, tests, signs and symptoms that differentiate between both.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the covering of the heart, which sometimes give similar symptoms.
if you had an enlarged heart and decreased ejection fraction during your follow up, you probably had myocarditis which is inflammation of the heart muscle itself rather than pericarditis, in most cases both recover completely however myocarditis leading to decrease in ejection fraction require to be on some medications for certain period till your heart recover.
Again, there are few tests and blood work to confirm any of these conditions.
