[Pericarditis with recurrent cardiac compression in rheumatoid polyarthritis]

The authors report the case of seventy-two-year-old man with severe rheumatoid arthritis in whom onset of right ventricular failure led to the discovery of pericarditis. After fluid withdrawal, the anterior part of the pericardium was resected. Analysis of the fluid and histological findings suggested a rheumatoid origin. Pericarditis recurred two and a half years later causing subacute compression of the heart leading to repeated centeses in spite of corticosteroid therapy. In the terminal stage, M. tuberculosis was discovered but this finding was not confirmed subsequently. The main features of rheumatoid pericarditis are reviewed. Tuberculous pericarditis should be considered in patients under corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents.