Unusual electrocardiographic changes in a patient with pericardial effusion caused by rheumatoid arthritis: a case report

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-related inflammatory disease which affects almost 1% of the general population and which is ranked among the top 15% of diseases causing major disability worldwide. RA shares some pathologic features, genetic predisposition, and risk factors with atherosclerosis, and inflammation plays a central pathophysiologic role in both diseases. RA is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. In RA, pericardial involvement is a frequent complication but rarely occurs as the first manifestation. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old male patient with RA presented with an acute chest pain and in the Electrocardiography (ECG) ischemic ST-down-sloping in multiple leads. Echocardiography showed an abnormal \"bounce\" of the interventricular septum and a small-medium size pericardial effusion. The laboratory values showed high inflammatory parameters and confirmed the presence of active RA. Troponin T was normal and NT-proBNP was at level 2. There were no signs for vasculitis. Coronarography found only small non-stenotic changes in the coronary arteries. A rheumatologic consultant recommended prednisone and later on, tocilizumab. He was also treated with colchicine. The clinical condition improved within 2 weeks and the ECG changes normalized within a month. Three months later, an echocardiographic follow-up showed that the pericardial effusion and the left ventricular bounce had disappeared. Conclusion: Small-medium size pericardial effusion manifesting as an acute coronary syndrome and with ischemic ECG changes is the most unusual finding. Indeed, the proper diagnosis of a pericardial effusion was made retrospectively