MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION DUE TO RHEUMATOID ARTERITIS - AN ANTEMORTEM DIAGNOSIS

Rheumatoid heart disease has become an accepted entity. Rheumatoid coronary arteritis can be suspected clinically in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis who suffer an acute myocardial infarction. The majority of patients who have come to autopsy with an associated myocardial infarction and rheumatoid arthritis have had coronary arteritis as the underlying cause of the infarction. This is the 1st documented clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction due to rheumatoid coronary arteritis. There is no specific treatment to recommend other than the usual care for patients with heart disease.