Recurrent peritonitis with ascites as the predominant manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

We describe a patient with abdominal pain and ascites, mesenteric lymphadenitis and peritoneal panniculitis. Initially her ANA was negative. The abdominal pain recurred again three years later and in between the two episodes she had had skin rash, alopecia, arthralgia, and positive Coombs' test-haemolytic anaemia. Her ANA became positive a few years after the initial episode.