Complete heart block and severe aortic incompetence in relapsing polychondritis: clinicopathologic findings

Arthritis Rheum. 1991 Jan;34(1):97-100. doi: 10.1002/art.1780340115.

Abstract

We describe a patient with relapsing polychondritis who developed fatal cardiac involvement comprising complete heart block, acute aortic incompetence, and cardiovascular collapse. Pathologic studies showed fibrosis of the cardiac conducting system and necrotizing inflammation of the aortic valve, features not previously described in relapsing polychondritis, as well as evidence of coronary artery vasculitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Clinical Conference

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aortic Valve / pathology
  • Aortic Valve / surgery
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / etiology*
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Echocardiography
  • Heart Block / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polychondritis, Relapsing / complications*
  • Polychondritis, Relapsing / diagnosis
  • Polychondritis, Relapsing / pathology

Substances

  • C-Reactive Protein