Revision as of 15:23, 12 February 2013 by Charmaine Patel(talk | contribs)(Created page with "{{WBRQuestion |QuestionAuthor=Raviteja Reddy Guddeti, Aarti Narayan |ExamType=USMLE Step 2 CK |MainCategory=Internal medicine |SubCategory=Cardiovascular |MainCategory=Interna...")
[[Prompt::30 yr old male presents to the ER with complaints of moderate grade fever associated with severe retrosternal chest pain that is referred to the back and the left trapezius ridge. Upon further inquiry the patient states that the pain is aggravated by lying supine and relieved by sitting and leaning forward. What is the most appropriate diagnosis?]]
[[Explanation::The correct answer is acute pericarditis. The typical characteristic retrosternal, left sided chest pain of pericarditis is more severe in acute infectious types. Often, the pain is sharp, constricting, aggravates on inspiration and on lying supine. It is relieved characteristically by sitting up and leaning forward.