yemenjmedYemen Journal of MedicinecoVolume 4 Issue 3MultidisciplinaryEnglishSeptember- December 2025NNY20251231ArticleCardiac Tamponade as an Initial Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case ReportEnglishY644647Saifat Ullahkhan1EnglishNMuftahOthman1EnglishYZishanNasir2EnglishYSyed HidayatAli3EnglishYFahadZamir4EnglishYNourjaouni4EnglishY10.63475/yjm.v4i3.0254Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect any organ in the body. Patients with SLE may present with a wide range of cardiac symptoms due to the involvement of the pericardium, myocardium, heart valves, conduction system, and coronary arteries. Pericarditis and pericardial effusion are some of the most frequently encountered cardiac complications in SLE. Cardiac tamponade as the first presenting sign of SLE is rare, but it is crucial to identify it promptly to ensure timely treatment. We report a case of a 37-year-old male who was admitted with a 1-month history of progressive shortness of breath and chest pain. He had swellings on his face and feet and gave a history of passing foamy urine. Echocardiography confirmed cardiac tamponade. Additional laboratory investigations demonstrated low C3 and C4 complements, positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA, and anti-Smith antibodies. His renal biopsy revealed features of diffuse proliferative and membranous lupus nephritis with cellular crescents. After undergoing an emergency echo-guided pericardiocentesis, he was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone, oral prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine. He was released from the hospital and is now being followed as an outpatient in the nephrology clinic.EnglishSystemic lupus erythematosus, cardiac tamponade, lupus nephritis, pericardiocentesis, pericarditishttps://www.yemenjmed.com/admin/abstract?id=306References1619