The unsupported arm: a cause of falsely raised blood pressure readings.

Abstract

conversely, have reported it as the presenting feature of the disease after direct pericardial infection.'In our case the history of arthritis might suggest a preceding meningococcal illness with pericarditis, arthritis, and peritonitis as later complications.The undoubted presence of organisms in the pericardial fluid, however, implies a direct bacterial mechanism.Corticosteroids have been advocated to aid resolution of the serous effusions of meningococcal infection.Our patient, however, responded satisfactorily to antibiotics and drainage alone.Effective eradication of the organism is obviously the object of treatment and whether steroids offer further benefit seems still open to question.