Management of a patient with active rheumatoid arthritis and suspected tuberculosis causing effusive-constrictive pericarditis

Abstract

In the following case report we present a patient who has been admitted for pericardial effusion causing cardiac compression with active rheumatoid arthritis and suspected tuberculosis. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous pulse steroid for active rheumatoid arthritis, with prophylactic anti-tuberculosis agents for suspected tuberculosis and with surgical pericardiectomy for the thickened pericardium as well as recurrent pericardial effusion. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.