Which condition can cause an elevated ST segment on an ECG other than myocardial infarction?

An elevated ST segment on an ECG can indicate various underlying conditions, and one significant cause, apart from myocardial infarction, is pericarditis. This condition involves inflammation of the pericardium, the fibrous sac surrounding the heart. The inflammation can lead to changes in the normal cardiac electrical activity, resulting in ST segment elevation on an ECG.

The ST segment elevation associated with pericarditis is typically widespread across multiple leads, unlike the localized ST segment elevation seen in myocardial infarction, which generally occurs in specific leads corresponding to the affected area of the heart. In pericarditis, the patient might also experience pleuritic chest pain that worsens with inspiration or coughing, which is indicative of the inflammatory process.

Other conditions listed, such as heart failure, aortic stenosis, and coronary artery disease, may showcase different features or complications on the ECG but are less characteristic for causing isolated ST segment elevation without the presence of myocardial ischemia. In heart failure, for example, one might see other changes like T wave abnormalities or left ventricular hypertrophy, while aortic stenosis primarily manifests with specific clinical signs and features associated with left ventricular strain. Coronary artery disease might lead to several types of rhythm disturbances and ischemic changes