Reumatizam, Vol. 63 No. 2, 2016.
Prethodno priopćenje
PERICARDIAL FEATURES OF IN-HOSPITAL RHEUMATOLOGY PATIENTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
Aurora Bakalli
Mjellma Rexhepi
Blerta Rexhepi
Dardan Koçinaj
Sažetak
Rheumatic disorders can be associated with pericarditis, but severe forms of pericarditis are rare. Th e aim of this
observational study was to evaluate pericardial features in patients with diff erent rheumatic diseases. Th irty-fi ve
patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Rheumatology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, from October 1 to October
21, 2014 were included in the study. Demographic data, history, laboratory, ECG, and echocardiography data, with
special emphasis on the analysis of the pericardium, were obtained from each patient. Echocardiography was especially
focused on the amount of pericardial fl uid and pericardial thickness in the posterior wall of the heart.
Mean patient age was 51.5 ± 13.8 years. 65.7% of the patients were women. Out of the patients that we analyzed,
88.6% had an infl ammatory rheumatologic disease. 11.3% of the patients had mild symptoms, in 68.7% the symptoms
were moderate, and in 20% severe. In all patients, pericardial hyperechogenicity was marked, with a mean pericardial
thickness of 4.68 ± 1.66 mm. Pericardial eff usion in a small amount was present in 57.1% of patients, with a mean
pericardial fl uid amount of 3.3 ± 1.9 mm. Th e severity of rheumatic disease had a positive and signifi cant correlation
with the presence of pericardial eff usion (r= 0.29, p=0.04) and its amount (r= 0.28, p=0.05). Th e patients had not been
aware of the pericardial involvement and did not have any clinical symptoms.
In conclusion, in this short-term small observational study pericardial changes were a frequent fi nding in the
rheumatology patients. In general, the pericarditis was subclinical and with small amounts of eff usion. Th e disease
activity of rheumatic disorders can be associated with pericarditis. Further studies with larger samples of patients and
of longer duration are needed to further explore this issue.
Ključne riječi
Rheumatic diseases – complications; Pericarditis – etiology, ultrasonography; Pericardial eff usion – etiology, ultrasonography; Pericardium – ultrasonography; Cross-sectional studies
Hrčak ID:
182820
URI
Datum izdavanja:
28.12.2016.
Posjeta: 1.088 *