Non-Infective Endocarditis in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한내과학회지

Pericarditis and atherosclerotic events are generally regarded as relatively common cardiac manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, RA-associated endocarditis is rarely reported, and can be confused (by clinicians) with an infective vegetation. Herein, we report a case of sterile endocarditis involving the mitral valve in a 36 year-old patient with longstanding RA; the problem was accidentally detected during performance of a valve operation.