A 50-year-old man develops widespread fibrinous pericarditis 2 weeks after a large myocardial infarction. This pattern of secondary inflammation illustrates which type of exudate?

• A Serous exudate
• B Suppurative (purulent) exudate
• C Fibrinous exudate ✓
• D Hemorrhagic exudate

Explanation

Dressler syndrome (post-MI pericarditis) exemplifies fibrinous pericarditis, in which high vascular permeability allows fibrinogen to exude and polymerize into fibrin strands on serosal surfaces, producing the characteristic 'bread and butter' appearance. Serous exudate has low protein content; purulent exudate contains neutrophils and necrotic debris; hemorrhagic exudate contains RBCs. Fibrinous exudate typically follows more severe inflammatory stimuli than serous.

Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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