A 28-year-old woman presenting with systemic lupus erythematosus stuck two sewing needles into her pericardium while psychotic from cerebral lupus. We believe this is a unique cause of acute pericarditis as a complication of SLE.
Hahn BHSystemic lupus erythematosus. In: Wilson JD , Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Petersdorf RG et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . New York: McGraw-Hill, 1991: 1435.
2.
Asherson RA, Denburg S., Carbotte R., Denborg J., Futrell N.Current concepts of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematasus . Postgrad Med J (in press).
3.
Bachman JJPericarditis caused by a sewing needle. N Eng J Med1992; 326: 768 (letter).
4.
Keogh BE, Oakley DM, Taylor KMChronic constrictive` pericarditis caused by self-mutilation with sewing needles: a case report and review of published reports. Br Heart J1988; 59: 77-80.
5.
Markowitz SM , Szentpetery S., Lower RR, Duma RJEndocarditis due to accidental penetrating foreign bodies. Am J Med1976; 60: 571-6.
