Hi there, has anyone from here suffered pericarditis due to their RA. My story star like that, i'm on mtx 20mg orally and Humira 40mg every 2 wks. I saw my rheumatology nurse on xmas eve and she told me i'm in remisssion when calculating my DAS ( i haven't had a flare up for almost 4-5mths and blood test was all good-CRP 1). On 16/01/14 i woke up with pain in the back of my neck, shoulders, my back and in my chest when i breath. My symptoms got worst during the day( fever-38 degrees celcius, shortness of breath and very painful when i breath). Went to my GP and was referred to A&E were i was admitted. My CRP came back 104 and i had a scan of my heart showing a bit of fluids round it- pericarditis. Has anyone here had the same problem before, while using mtx and humira? I'm really worried.

Hi Amira

Sorry to hear you have had an episode of pericarditis, especially after being told you are in remission from the RA. Never a dull moment is there?! I think it is more related to the RA itself than the drugs we take to treat it.

I had this also a few years ago and it is very painful indeed and a bit scary. However my treatment was a very high dose of steroids for a while until symptoms resolved which worked well, then the steroids were tapered gradually. I do take a baseline dose of prednisolone permanently as I have Addison's disease (have had RA for 41 years).

I do hope you will feel much better soon.

Take care,
Liz

MTX (Methotrexate) is one of a class of drugs called Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). These are traditional older and cheaper meds which nevertheless can be extremely effective for many people. Biologics are newer drugs (and very expensive £8000 a year and more.) They target specific enzymes that are responsible for the disease. You have to have failed three DMARD drugs usually before you will be considered for a biologic (you may also see them referred to as Anti-TNF drugs.) Often a biologic will be prescribed alongside a DMARD for a belt and braces approach, as in your case.

Hi again,

I was on Enbrel injections (anti-TNF biologic drug) and sulphasalazine (DMARD) at the tiime. But my rheumatologist just thought it was another manifestation of the RA in another part of my body. Like you the CRP went sky high.

So glad you are feeling a bit better

Take care
Lizx

Hi Amira

Re sun sensitivity and methotrexate: Like you I have never been sensitive to the sun-the more the better! -until I started on this drug .I took my usual dose one morning whilst on a sunshine holiday and within an hour I was itching like crazy with a heat rash. Ever since then I have had to be more careful in the sun and never tan in the same way I once did. VERY frustarating!

Julie

Oh, what bad luck.

Lupus is another auto-immune disease so there's always that risk. Like many AI diseases there is often commonality in the treatments.

My sister had Lupus and I have enthesitis and ulcerative colitis (also an AI disease) so there is definitely some familial relationship.

There's a comparison between lupus and RA here

Hi Amira,

I had pericarditis in 2008 (it started the day of my graduation ball in fact!). It was so painful and scary. During my follow-up appointments the doctor asked me loads of questions about my family history with RA and constantly checked my hands and feet (which I now realise was to check for bumps etc). I was told I had the all clear in 2011 but I never put two & two together until I was diagnosed with RA in 2012.
I've now started noticing the pain again since finding out I'm pregnant last week so will definitely be asking my doctor and midwife about it.

Hope everything goes ok for you and you start feeling better soon!
Xx

Hi Liz,

I’m still waiting for the hospital to contact me for my first infusion. How long did it take the hospital to contact you for your first infusion of Rituximab? I hope it doesn’t take more than 3-4 weeks because when my Rheumatologist prescribed Humira for me it took 3 weeks for me to get it. And for the 3 weeks I was in agony and at the moment the pain and stiffness is going up gradually.

Amira
xxx

Hi Liz,
Thanks for the reply. Did you get any side-effect with Rituxan treatment such as hair loss? I'm very anxious.

Hi Liz,

I got my appointments for my infusions today. First one will be on 5/03/14 and second on 19/03/14, prior my first infusion I need to do some blood test. Then followed in 3/12 and 9/12. Will keep you posted about it. Thanks so much for the advice. I'm trying to stay positive for this one.

Amira
xxx