Which investigations should be prioritized in a patient with suspected acute pericarditis?

Investigations to prioritize in suspected acute pericarditis include:

• Resting 12-lead ECG: To identify characteristic changes such as widespread ST-segment elevation and PR depression, and to exclude other causes of chest pain like acute coronary syndrome ¹.
• Blood tests: Including inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, ESR), full blood count, and cardiac biomarkers (troponin) to assess for myocardial involvement and inflammation ¹.
• Chest X-ray: To exclude alternative diagnoses such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, or complications like pleural effusion ¹,⁴.
• Echocardiography: To assess for pericardial effusion and cardiac function, which is important to identify complications such as cardiac tamponade ³.

These investigations help confirm the diagnosis of acute pericarditis, exclude other serious causes of chest pain, and identify complications requiring urgent management ¹,³,⁴.