Localized pericardial inflammation in systemic lupus erythematosus

S. Ben-Horin¹, O. Portnoy², R. Pauzner³, A. Livneh¹

Medicine F¹, Radiology Division² and Medicine E³, Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

ABSTRACT
Regional or localized pericarditis has been infrequently reported. We report a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who presented with retrosternal pleuritic-type chest pain without audible friction rub, electrocardiographic changes or detectable pericardial effusion on echocardiography. Computed tomography, however, revealed a circumscribed area of pericardial inflammation, suggesting a diagnosis of localized lupus-associated pericarditis. This case demonstrates that localized pericarditis may occur in SLE and that chest CT may be required as part of the work-up in the diagnosis of lupus pericarditis.

Key words
Acute localized or regional pericarditis, pericardial effusion, systemic lupus erythematosus.

Please address correspondence to: Avi Livneh, MD, Department of Medicine F, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel. 
E-mail: alivneh@post.tau.ac.il

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2004; 22: 483-484.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2004.