Abstract
Although nonspecific pericarditis, myocarditis, valvulitis, and coronary arteritis are known as cardiac lesions that accompany rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there have been few reports of the occurrence of clinically severe valvular disease. We report here the case of 69-year-old man with a 25-year history of RA who died of acute left-sided heart failure complicating to aortic steno-insufficiency and angina pectoris. Autopsy findings revealed the coincidence of a congenital bicuspid aortic valve with chronic inflammation, fibrosis and calcification; eccentric hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis of the left ventricle; 75% luminal narrowing of the proximal portion of the coronary artery due to atherosclerosis, and narrowing of the small arteries of the cardiac muscle due to angitis. It is deduced that the coronary artery lesions, aortic valve lesions and myocardial lesions were aggravated by the bicuspid aortic valve, changes with ageing and corticosteroid therapy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1045-1049 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Japanese Circulation Journal |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 1984 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Angina pectoris
- Aortic steno-insufficiency
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Rheumatoid arthritis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Physiology