Vol 69, No 9 (2011)
Chorzy trudni typowi
Published online: 2011-09-19
Recurrent cardiac tamponade and sepsis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
DOI: 10.33963/v.kp.79182
Kardiol Pol 2011;69(9):948-950.
Abstract
Exudative pericarditis is found in 30–50% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in later stages of the
disease. Most cases present with no or few symptoms. We report a case of a 68 year-old male with a history of mild RA who
developed exudative pericarditis leading to recurrent cardiac tamponade requiring repeated pericardiocenteses. Treatment
with glucocorticosteroids, methotrexate and colchicine proved ineffective in preventing the recurrences. Immunosuppression
contributed to the development of sepsis caused by Enterobacter cloacae and resulting in the patient’s death.
Kardiol Pol 2011; 69, 9: 948–950
Kardiol Pol 2011; 69, 9: 948–950
Keywords: cardiac tamponaderheumatoid arthritis
![](https://journals.viamedica.pl/plugins/generic/popups/images/icons/close.png)