Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) Practice Exam 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

ST segment elevation in a patient with pericarditis is primarily caused by inflammation of the pericardium. In pericarditis, the layers of the pericardium become irritated and inflamed, resulting in changes to the heart's electrical conduction, which can be reflected on an electrocardiogram (ECG) as ST segment elevation. This elevation occurs because the inflamed pericardium alters the way electrical signals propagate through the heart muscle, leading to abnormal ECG findings.

Other factors such as high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, or isolated arrhythmias do not directly cause the specific ST segment elevation associated with pericarditis. Instead, these conditions can lead to various cardiac changes but do not mimic the specific ST changes seen in the context of pericardial inflammation. Thus, understanding the underlying mechanism of pericarditis and its effects on the heart gives insight into why inflammation of the pericardium is the correct cause of ST segment elevation in this scenario.