Key result
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, asymptomatic pericardial effusion was present in 23% and was significantly associated with lower serum albumin (OR 0.131; p=0.003) and higher rheumatoid factor.
Cross-Sectional (n=87)
Odds Ratio: 0.131
p-value: p=0.003
Asymptomatic pericardial effusion is common (23%) in rheumatoid arthritis patients and is independently associated with hypoalbuminemia and higher rheumatoid factor titers.
Should not yet alter pericardial screening in rheumatoid arthritis; hypothesis-generating for links to hypoalbuminemia and rheumatoid factor.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and clinical correlates of asymptomatic pericardial effusion (PE) detected by echocardiography in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Echocardiography and electrocardiography were performed in 87 consecutive patients with RA. Asymptomatic PE was correlated with electrocardiographic changes and laboratory findings. RESULTS: Among 87 patients with RA, 20 patients (23%) had PE and 28 patients (32%) had hypoalbuminemia. The patients with PE had significantly lower serum albumin level (p < 0.001), higher rheumatoid factor (RF)titer (p = 0.002) and higher incidence of impaired left ventricular relaxation (55 vs. 28%, p = 0.028) and tended to have a higher incidence of PR-segment depression than those without PE (p = 0.085). When five variables (PR-segment depression, C-reactive protein, serum albumin, RF and impaired left ventricular relaxation) were used in the multivariate analysis, serum albumin (p = 0.003, Odds ratio = 0.131) and RF (p = 0.020, Odds ratio = 3.775) emerged as significant variables related to the presence of asymptomatic PE. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to pericardial inflammation due to more severe RA, hypoalbuminemia was an important factor associated with the presence of asymptomatic PE.
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Sugiura et al. (2007) conducted a cross-sectional in Rheumatoid arthritis (n=87). Serum albumin and rheumatoid factor levels was evaluated on Presence of asymptomatic pericardial effusion (OR 0.131, p=0.003). In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, asymptomatic pericardial effusion was present in 23% and was significantly associated with lower serum albumin (OR 0.131; p=0.003) and higher rheumatoid factor.
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