[Pericardial effusion as the only first clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus]

Abstract

Pericarditis is the most frequent cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but pericardial effusion rarely occurs as the only first clinical manifestation of SLE. We report the case of a male patient whose initial manifestation of lupus was a pericardial effusion. We comment on its clinical course and we reviewed in the medical literature different presenting features in SLE.