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Case Reports
. 2018 Apr 19:2018:bcr2017223206.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223206.

Liver chemistry abnormalities and leg oedema in rheumatoid arthritis

Eva Marianne van Soest  1   2 , Anho Liem  3 , Jende van Zeben  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Liver chemistry abnormalities and leg oedema in rheumatoid arthritis

Eva Marianne van Soest et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

A 66-year-old man with seronegative, erosive rheumatoid arthritis for 12 years presented with malaise, elevated alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, and leg oedema. He subsequently developed ascites. No liver pathology was found, but cardiac analysis including right heart catheterisation revealed constrictive pericarditis. Rheumatoid constrictive pericarditis is a rare condition, but, despite current effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, still occurs. Diagnostic delay is frequent. Although mortality of the intervention is high, pericardiectomy is needed for most patients.

Keywords: pericardial disease; rheumatoid arthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

References

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