Chronic large benign pericardial effusion complicating rheumatoid arthritis: a case report

A 62-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis presented with a large pericardial effusion. Serial M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiography over 20 months revealed no change in the amount of pericardial fluid, which had the features of a transudate. At no time did she develop any cardiac symptoms, tamponade or constriction. The course was thus "benign" and needed no surgical intervention.