Why the study?
Pericardial effusion can be an early and concerning presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in young females, who are predominantly affected by the disease.
Pericardial effusion can be a rare initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus and may require surgical pericardiostomy if refractory to medical therapy.
May warrant SLE workup in young women with unexplained tamponade; leaves open how often this is the index presentation.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that can affect various organs and systems in the body, leading to a wide range of clinical manifestations. Pericardial effusion, which is an accumulation of excessive fluid in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart, can be one of the early presentations of SLE in some individuals. When it occurs in young females, it can be particularly concerning, as SLE predominantly affects women of childbearing age. In this case report, we describe pericardial effusion as the initial presentation of SLE in a 37-year-old mother of four children. Importantly, early diagnosis and consistent follow-up are critical for improving the prognosis and quality of life for individuals with SLE.
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Shalomi et al. (2023) studied this question.
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