Rheumatoid Constrictive Pericarditis Treated Successfully by Pericardiectomy

摘要

Pericardial effusion and pericarditis are infrequent complications of rheumatoid arthritis. Involvement may rarely lead to acute or chronic cardiac tamponade. However, close observation during an acute episode of pericarditis and careful follow-up are required, since the development of pericardial effusion with tamponade and pericardial constriction is insidious. This is the 33rd reported case of rheumatoid constrictive pericarditis in which pericardiectomy was successful.