SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PRESENTING AS CARDIAC TAMPONADE

Cardiac tamponade is a life threatening emergency caused by the accumulation of fluid in pericardial cavity causing obstruction to blood flow. Malignancy and tuberculosis in developing countries are the usual causes of cardiac tamponade.SLE, a connective tissue disorder affecting multiple systems can rarely present with cardiac tamponade. Common cardiac manifestation of SLE is pericarditis. We are presenting the case report of a 35 year old female patient who got admitted with pericardial effusion with tamponade.On further evaluation the cause of effusion was found out to be SLE. She was treated with prednisolone hydroxyl chloroquine and showed excellent response