[Rheumatoid pericarditis: correlation with immunologic parameters]

In 35 patients with rheumatoid pericarditis the laboratory findings were compared with those of a group of 65 patients with rheumatoid arthritis without a pericardial exudate. The authors assessed the red cell sedimentation rate and serum levels of immunoglobulins G, M, A, semiquantitative values of the rheumatoid factor, circulating immunocomplexes, C3 and C4 complement components, the positivity of antinuclear antibodies and values of C-reactive protein. The authors found significantly elevated values of immunoglobulins M in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without a pericardial exudate. As regards the other investigated parameters the two compared groups did not differ.