{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T00:12:04Z","timestamp":1760659924231,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760572800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCDD"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including valvular heart disease (VHD), remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Case Presentation: We report a rare case of a woman in her fifth decade of life diagnosed with overlap syndrome (RA and SLE), in whom transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a degenerative altered bicuspid aortic valve with moderate aortic regurgitation (AR) and preserved left ventricular systolic function. The patient presented with a recent history of continuous, moderate chest discomfort and progressive exertional dyspnea, along with a mild elevation in highly cardioselective enzymes. AR was confirmed as the cause of her symptoms, rather than acute coronary syndrome or heart failure. Conclusions: This case highlights the potential contribution of chronic systemic inflammation in RA\/SLE to the pathogenesis of AR, an extra-articular manifestation associated with adverse clinical outcomes. These findings support the routine use of echocadiography in rheumatologic patients as a key strategy for early detection and prevention of life-threatening CV complications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcdd12100408","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]],"date-time":"2025-10-16T07:29:38Z","timestamp":1760599778000},"page":"408","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Aortic Regurgitation in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis\/Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Overlap Syndrome (Rhupus): Case Report and Review of Literature"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Mislav","family":"Radi\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Center of Excellence for Systemic Sclerosis in Croatia, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"},{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hana","family":"\u0110oga\u0161","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tina","family":"Be\u010di\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cardiovascular Disease Department, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8529-2345","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Petra","family":"\u0160imac","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Center of Excellence for Systemic Sclerosis in Croatia, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4669-666X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivana","family":"Juki\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, Gastroenterology Division, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"},{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2645-7597","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josipa","family":"Radi\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"},{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Arterial Hypertension, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Damir","family":"Fabijani\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"},{"name":"Cardiovascular Disease Department, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Tsokos, G.C. 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