Constrictive pericarditis, pyopericardium, and tamponade with rheumatoid arthritis.

Constrictive pericarditis and pyopericardium with tamponade in a patient and rheumatoid arthritis is described. No fever was recorded despite a litre of pus in the pericardial sac, perhaps because of previous treatment with hydrocortisone. Echocardiography is a diagnostic advance.