Heart attack or pericarditis? Diagnostic clues should be confirmed by hospital admission

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Heart attack or pericarditis? Diagnostic clues should be confirmed by hospital admission

Chris Ellis

Chris Ellis

ECG Heartbeat

HEARTBEAT

Myocardial infarction must be excluded in a man who presents with severe chest pains along with a history of dyslipidaemia and a fatal heart attack in his immediate family. Cardiologist Chris Ellis discusses the diagnosis, management and follow-up of this patient

Key points The presentation of pericarditis and STEMI may be similar, but the ST-segment elevation on ECG will typically be concave for pericar