Rheumatoid pericardial effusion with heart block treated by pericardiectomy and implantation of permanent pacemaker.

Abstract

A patient with long-standing seropositive erosive rheumatoid arthritis developed a pericardial effusion with chronic cardiac tamponade. He had evidence of conducting system disease and developed heart block. He was successfully treated by pericardiectomy and implantation of a demand pacemaker.

Progressive Heart Block in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Antibodies to cardiac conducting tissues has been found to occur in increasing frequency in patients with RA with conduction abnormalities, thus suggesting another mechanism for the development of disorder of the conducting tissue 8 . In addition, heart block associated with pericardial effusion and tamponade responding to pericardiectomy and pacemaker implantation has been described 9 …”