Case report reveals Tjalma syndrome complicating systemic lupus erythematosus, highlighting diagnostic challenges and treatment urgency.
Tjalma syndrome, also known as pseudo‐pseudo Meigs syndrome, is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by ascites, pleural effusion, and elevated CA‐125 levels in the absence of malignancy. We report a case of a 22‐year‐old woman with SLE presenting with vulvar swelling, severe polyserositis, nephritis, and progressive respiratory failure. SLE was confirmed by strongly positive anti‐dsDNA with low complement levels. Despite immunosuppressive and supportive therapy, the patient's condition rapidly worsened, and she died due to hyperkalemia‐induced ventricular fibrillation. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of Tjalma syndrome, the need for thorough exclusion of malignancy, and the importance of early immunosuppression in preventing fatal outcomes.
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Khan et al. (2026) studied this question.
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