Non-arthritic rheumatoid valvulitis with coronary arteritis causing myocardial infarction.

Rheumatoid valvulitis occurring in an individual without arthritis has rarely been reported. A 62-year-old woman died after repeated myocardial infarction, with no articular symptoms but with a fever of unknown origin and a positive rheumatoid factor. Autopsy examination revealed granulomatous inflammatory lesions with rheumatoid nodules present in the aortic valve and the base of the left coronary artery. Wide-spread myocardial infarction was found in the septal and anterolateral walls of the left ventricle.