[Pericardial effusion as the only first clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus].

Pericarditis is the most frequent cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but pericardial effusion rarely occurs as the only first clinical manifestation of SLE. We report the case of a male patient whose initial manifestation of lupus was a pericardial effusion. We comment on its clinical course and we reviewed in the medical literature different presenting features in SLE.