Related Experiment Videos
Cardiac changes in rheumatoid arthritis
M Bély1, A Apáthy, E Beke-Martos
1National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy, Budapest, Hungary.
Acta Morphologica Hungarica
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) significantly impacts the heart, causing vasculitis, myocardial infarctions, and amyloidosis in a notable percentage of patients. These cardiac complications, including rheumatoid nodules, can be severe and directly contribute to mortality.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Rheumatology
- Autopsy Studies
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with known extra-articular manifestations.
- Cardiac involvement in RA is increasingly recognized but requires detailed pathological examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spectrum and prevalence of cardiac pathological changes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- To determine the association between rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, rheumatoid nodules, and cardiac dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Autopsy review of 169 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Systematic examination of cardiac tissues for vasculitis, myocardial infarction, rheumatoid nodules, pericarditis, valvulitis, and amyloidosis.
Main Results:
- Systemic vasculitis was identified in 15.38% of RA patients; coronary vessel vasculitis occurred in 10%.
- Myocardial infarctions linked to coronary arteritis were observed in 5.9% of cases, leading to cardiac insufficiency and death.
- Rheumatoid nodules in the myocardium (8 cases), pericarditis (4 cases), and valvulitis (7 cases) were significant findings, with nodules potentially representing severe vasculitis.
- Generalized secondary amyloidosis was present in 18.93% of patients, predominantly affecting the heart (90.62% of amyloidosis cases).
Conclusions:
- Cardiac pathology, including vasculitis and rheumatoid nodules, is a frequent and severe complication of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Amyloidosis is a significant contributor to cardiac morbidity in RA patients.
- These findings underscore the importance of monitoring cardiac health in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.