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[Constrictive pericarditis in severe seronegative rheumatoid polyarthritis]
C Bologna1, J L Poirier, C Hérisson
1Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Lapeyronie, CHU, Montpellier.
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Constrictive pericarditis is a rare rheumatoid arthritis complication. Diagnosis requires echocardiography and right heart catheterization, with surgical pericardiectomy being the only effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Cardiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can rarely lead to constrictive pericarditis.
- This study presents a case of severe seronegative RA with constrictive pericarditis.
Observation:
- Constrictive pericarditis typically affects men around 52 years old.
- Clinical presentation is similar to constrictive pericarditis from other causes.
- Diagnosis relies on echocardiography and right heart catheterization.
Findings:
- RA associated with pericarditis is often seropositive, nodular, and advanced.
- No correlation exists between RA duration and pericardial disease occurrence.
- Histology reveals fibrosis and non-specific inflammation, with immunoglobulin and complement deposits in pericardial vessels.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for constrictive pericarditis in RA patients.
- Pericardiectomy is the sole life-saving treatment for this condition.
- Understanding the pathogenesis may lead to targeted therapies.