title: Cholesterol pericarditis associated with rheumatoid arthritis: A rare case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholesterol pericarditis (CP) is a special type of pericarditis. It is characterized by chronic pericardial effusion with high cholesterol concentration and with or without the formation of crystals in pericardial effusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case report, we described a 74-year-old male with massive pericardial effusion. He presented with no symptoms. However, he had 8-year history of rheumatoid arthritis medicated with methotrexate, celecoxib, and prednisone, and 5-year history of hypertension medicated with amlodipine besylate. On admission, transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large pericardial effusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed pericardiocentesis for this patient and a lot of cholesterol crystals were found in pericardial effusion under the microscope. A successful operation of thoracoscopic pericardiectomy was proceeded, and the diagnosis was confirmed by surgical pathology. The patient was well recovered and discharged on the tenth day after surgery. It could be predicted that pericardiectomy under video-assisted thoracoscope could be a promising therapy for CP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rheumatoid arthritis may cause CP with no symptoms. Pericardiectomy could be a promising therapy for CP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology Department of Cardiac Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310000, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Xian-Da
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Che
authors.forename: Ya-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology*; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol