Case report: the rare clinical picture of vasculitis of the pericardium in rheumatoid arthritis

ConclusionBased on the fact that tumor necrosis factor blockers can induce vasculitis, etanercept might have been responsible for the exacerbation of pericarditis. The underlying rheumatoid arthritis could also be considered as a  trigger. The detection ofStaphylococcus aureus DNA in the pericardium and the exacerbation of pericarditis could be attributed to secondary vasculitis after an infection withS.  aureus, whereas the tendency to infection due to humoral immunodeficiency after years of immunosuppressive therapy has to be discussed as a  trigger.
Source: European Surgery - Category: Surgery Source Type: research