Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cardiac Compression Caused by a Large Fibrotic Intrapericardial Mass and Effusion: A Case Report

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease which usually affects the synovial membrane, but may have extra-articular manifestations, including cardiac involvement. The most common cardiac manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis are pericarditis, pericardial effusions, myocarditis, coronary vasculitis, diastolic dysfunction, and valvular heart disease [1].

We describe the case of a 58-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who developed subacute right ventricular compression secondary to a pericardial effusion and a fibrotic mass. The patient’s joint disease and rheumatic markers were stable at the time of presentation. Analysis of the pericardial fluid and mass did not reveal evidence of active inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, opportunistic infection, or malignancy. We propose that there may be a causative relationship between the use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists and the development of pericardial fluid and mass. We have reviewed the literature addressing this possibility.

Case Report

The patient was a 58-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis, who presented to our hospital with a 2-month history of increasing fatigue, lower-extremity edema, and shortness of breath. Her rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed 5 years prior to her hospitalization. She was initially treated with methotrexate, and converted to leflunomide (a cell cycle inhibitor) 3 years prior to presentation. Because of recurrent arthritis, anti-TNF-α therapy with golimumab was added 4 months prior to this presentation. The patient’s treatment for rheumatoid arthritis at the time of admission included hydroxychloroquine, prednisone, leflunomide, and golimumab. There was evidence of active arthritis. Physical examination demonstrated elevation of jugular vein pressure and marked pitting edema of the lower extremities. Diagnostic data demonstrated leukocytosis with a white blood cell count of 15 K/µl (normal range: 3.80–10.80), a creatinine of 1.7 mg/dl (normal: 0.6–1.4), a total bilirubin 4.8 mg/dl (normal: 0–1.2), troponin 0.11 ng/ml(normal: <0.05), and a NT pro BNP 5070 pg/ml (normal: <125). An erythrocyte sedimentation rate obtained prior to admission was 27 mm/h (normal: <30), and CCP IgG was negative. An electrocardiogram was remarkable for an ectopic atrial tachycardia. A transthoracic echocardiogram was obtained and revealed a 2.5-cm circumferential pericardial effusion with right ventricular diastolic collapse and a possible mass compressing the right ventricle (Figure 1). A CT scan demonstrated a nodular liver consistent with cirrhosis. The patient underwent pericardiocentesis, with the removal of 320 cc of hemorrhagic fluid. Analysis of the fluid did not reveal evidence of malignancy or infection, including mycobacterium and fungi. A repeat transthoracic echocardiogram documented resolution of the effusion, but findings consistent with a constrictive process and thickened pericardium. A cardiac MRI with gadolinium contrast revealed a 3.5-cm soft tissue mass within the pericardial sac overlying and compressing the right ventricle (Figure 2). The patient underwent surgical exploration and removal of the pericardial mass. After the median sternotomy, both left and right cardiac chambers were found to be surrounded by thick (6–8 mm), fibrotic, partially calcified pericardium. The pericardium was resected laterally to within about 2 cm of the course of the phrenic nerve. The pericardial mass was a friable organized collection of fibrous material with tanned cauliflower-like appearance over the anterior part of the heart near the atrioventricular groove. Pathologic evaluation of the pericardial mass revealed a 7.2×6×1-cm mass with acellular fibrinous debris and cholesterol clefts but no evidence of inflammation, malignancy, infection, or granuloma nodules (Figure 3). The pericardium appeared fibrotic with evidence of chronic inflammation. TNF-α therapy was discontinued on discharge. Serial echocardiograms performed up to 26 months after surgery demonstrated no re-accumulation of pericardial effusion or recurrence of a pericardial mass.

Discussion

Pericardial involvement in patients with stable rheumatic arthritis is uncommon, and fibrotic pericardial masses are even more rarely described. The pericardial mass and effusion were probably not caused by active rheumatoid arthritis, opportunistic infection, or malignancy, and analysis of the pericardial effusions and resected intrapericardial mass were not suggestive of any of these conditions.

In a 2013 review of the literature describing cardiac abnormalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, none were found to have had fibrotic pericardial mass development [2]. In our review of the recent literature, 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were documented have intrapericardial fibrous masses [3–5]. In most reports, it was proposed that inflammation and extra-articular rheumatoid disease caused the pericardial fibrosis. Of 3 cases with pericardial fibrosis, active arthritis was noted in 1 case. Interestingly, 1 patient had been treated with leflunomide, and 2 other reports did not specify the treatment regimen.

Pericardial effusions have been reported as a possible adverse effect of TNF-α inhibitor use [6–9]. Soh et al. reported 2 cases of pericardial effusions in patients on TNF-α therapy, both with surgical drainage. Ozkan et al. reported a case with dramatic improvement of pericardial effusion with discontinuation of adalimumab therapy. Edward et al. described 7 patients who developed pericardial effusion on anti-TNF-α therapy. An auto-immune reaction to TNF-α inhibitor, paradoxical flares of systemic rheumatoid arthritis secondary to anti-TNF therapy, drug-induced lupus, and cutaneous/systemic vasculitis have all been proposed as possible explanations for the development of the pericardial effusions in these patients. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report of pericardial effusion with TNF-α therapy with golimumab, but similar effects might be expected from golimumab.

Studies performed in murine fibroblasts have suggested that TNF-α antagonists can contribute to myofibroblast proliferation [10]. Interestingly, leflunomide has been associated with interstitial lung disease and pulmonary nodule formation [11]. Although the possibility that leflunomide caused intrapericardial mass cannot be excluded, our patient was most recently started on golimumab 4 months prior to this presentation, while on chronic leflunomide therapy. Accordingly, we feel that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonist may potentially cause fibrotic changes in the pericardium and pericardial masses.

Conclusions

We describe an uncommon case of a patient with stable rheumatoid arthritis who developed subacute right ventricular compression caused by a large pericardial effusion and a fibrotic pericardial mass. While the exact cause of pericardial effusion and fibrotic lesions remains uncertain, we feel that there may be a causative association between the use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists and the development of pericardial effusion and fibrotic pericardial masses.