Delayed febrile pleuropericarditis after sepsis. A possible analogue of the postcardiotomy syndrome.

Abstract

In four patients recovering from bacterial sepsis a febrile polyserositis appeared that clinically resembled the postcardiotomy or post-myocardial infarction syndrome. Its most dramatic features were fever, malaise, substernal pain, pericardial friction rub, and sterile pericardial effusion. Pneumonitis and pleuritis with effusion were also present. The illness resolved spontaneously in two patients and was apparently terminated by aspirin or prednisone in two others. The preliminary infection was staphylococcal in three patients and probably meningococcal in the fourth.