A challenging case of rheumatoid arthritis‐associated aortitis presenting with erythema nodosum after ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction: A case report

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease that has many extraarticular manifestations. Cardiovascular involvement, including coronary vasculitis and aortitis and skin lesion of erythema nodosum are uncommon findings of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and thus, it is challenging for diagnosis of this case from those unusual extra-articular presentation.

Erythema Nodosum Leprosum Reaction Masquerading as Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Rheumatoid arthritis can have numerous extra-articular manifestations, such as erythema nodosum, aortitis, myocarditis, pericardial effusion, stroke, arrhythmias, and congestive cardiac failure. The absence of these features and a negative rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP report helped us rule out the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis [ 7 , 8 ]. Furthermore, the SSS and biopsy reports, along with the drastic symptomatic improvement in arthralgia seen immediately after the first dose of corticosteroids, aided us in substantiating the diagnosis of BL Hansen's disease in type 2 reactions.…”

Atypical Presentation of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Erythema Nodosum Mimicking Cellulitis: A Case Report

“…However, RA can rarely manifest with erythema nodosum. There have been only a few reported cases of EN in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [30,31]. A study of 130 patients by Karpova et al who were referred with a diagnosis of erythema nodosum showed that 35% were secondary to infectious causes and the other 35% due to Löfgren syndrome.…”