title: Pericardial effusions with tamponade and visceral constriction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-inhibitor therapy.
abstract: Tumour necrosis factor-inhibitor (TNF-inhibitor) therapy is increasingly used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. While it is effective for the articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis we have reason to believe that it is less effective for extra-articular disease. We present two cases of life-threatening cardiac tamponade in two patients with well-controlled rheumatoid arthritis on adalimumab. An extensive literature search was carried out and three other patients were found. We believe that these cases highlight the need for rheumatologists to be vigilant for extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis even in the presence of quiescent joint disease while on TNF-inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: May Ching
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Hamish H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corkill
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068879:Adalimumab; D002444:Cefuroxime; D008775:Methylprednisolone