Related Experiment Videos
Haemopericardium in rheumatoid arthritis
R H Stables1, S Campbell, O J Ormerod
1Cardiac Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
International Journal of Cardiology
|May 1, 1989
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis can rarely cause hemopericardium, leading to cardiac tamponade. Pericardial aspiration effectively treated these rare cases, preventing fluid reaccumulation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease primarily affecting joints.
- Cardiac complications in RA, though known, are less commonly associated with hemopericardium.
Observation:
- Two cases of hemopericardium presenting as cardiac tamponade in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are described.
- Patients presented with symptoms indicative of significant hemodynamic compromise.
Findings:
- Pericardial aspiration was performed in both cases.
- The aspiration yielded a good clinical response with no recurrence of pericardial effusion or tamponade.
Implications:
- Hemopericardium, while rare, should be considered a potential complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Early recognition and intervention, such as pericardiocentesis, can effectively manage RA-associated hemopericardium and prevent hemodynamic instability.