title: Complete heart block and severe aortic stenosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthtritis: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A 77-year-old male patient with a history of rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to our hospital for investigation of syncope and dyspnea on exertion class II according to NYHA class association.
  
  
  METHODS
  The electrocardiogram revealed complete heart block whereas the echocardiogram showed severe aortic valve stenosis with a peak gradient = 80 mmHg. A permanent pacemaker was implanted in addition to aortic valve replacement. The coexistence of complete heart block and severe aortic stenosis with rheumatoid arthritis are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are necessary to assess whether a true association of the above conditions exist.
authors.affiliation: Laiko General Hospital of Athens, Department of Cardiology, 17 Agiou Thomas St, GR-15727 Goudi-Athens, Greece. nik_lion@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moyssakis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lionakis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vlahodimitris
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Votteas