Pericardial fluid analysis in scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)

A patient with scleroderma who presented with pericarditis and effusion is described. Aspirates from this pericardial effusion had the characteristics of an exudate with no evidence of autoantibodies, immune complexes or complement depletion. These findings suggest that the mechanisms operating in the production of pericardial effusion in scleroderma may be different from those found in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.