Cardiac Tamponade During Methotrexate Treatment in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis; Is It Due To Viral Infection, Rheumatoid Arthritis or Methotrexate Therapy?: Case Report

Abstract

Here we describe a Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patient who died due to cardiac tamponade during methotrexate (Mtx) treatment while her synovitis remained inactive. Mtx is an effective therapy for articular and extraarticular manifestations of RA and currently most widely used disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). However Mtx on occasion may play a role in facilitating the development of the extra-articular manifestations of RA in some rare cases. In this case report, the causes of cardiac tamponade in patients with RA during Mtx therapy and the efficacy of Mtx on the life expectancy in patients with RA discussed by review the literature.