Myopericarditis and severe myocardial dysfunction as the initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Pericarditis is the most frequent cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a large pericardial effusion as the initial manifestation of the disease is infrequent, especially when it is associated with myocardial damage. We describe an unusual case of a young female with pleuropericarditis and severe myocardial dysfunction as the initial manifestation of SLE.