[5][6] Dressler syndrome was historically a phenomenon complicating about 7% of myocardial infarctions,[7] but in the era of percutaneous coronary intervention, it is very uncommon.

The disease consists of persistent low-grade fever, chest pain (usually pleuritic), pericarditis (usually evidenced by a pericardial friction rub, chest pain worsening when recumbent, and diffuse ST elevation with PR segment depression), and/or pericardial effusion.

Similar pericarditis can be associated with any pericardiotomy or trauma to the pericardium or heart surgery which is called a postcardiotomy syndrome.

Other NSAIDs, though once used to treat Dressler syndrome, are less advocated and should be avoided in patients with ischemic heart disease.

One NSAID in particular, indomethacin, can inhibit new collagen deposition, thus impairing the healing process for the infarcted region.