CARDIAC-TAMPONADE AND PERICARDIAL DISORDERS IN CONNECTIVE-TISSUE DISEASES - CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

Pericardial disorders occurring in connective tissue diseases are not uncommon and may present as acute or chronic pericarditis with or with out an effusion. In many instances, a diagnosis of pericardial involve ment is not found until autopsy. Echocardiography and other currently employed radiographic techniques have enhanced the ability to make a d iagnosis. Approximate frequencies of common connective tissue disorder s with pericardial involvement include scleroderma (59%), systemic lup us erythematosus (44%), mixed connective tissue disease (30%), rheumat oid arthritis (24%), and polymyositis/dermatomyositis (11%). Cardiac t amponade or constriction is rare. This article describes a patient wit h clinical features consistent with mixed connective tissue disease th at presented with a pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. In add ition, a review of pericardial involvement in connective tissue diseas es and the occurrence of cardiac tamponade or constriction is included .