Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Cardiac Tamponade and Myocardial Edema in the Early Postpartum Period

Pericardial effusions are frequently caused by inflammatory diseases. In cases of serosal inflammation, which often present with concomitant systemic symptoms, cardiac tamponade can occur, requiring emergency drainage. Nevertheless, it is rare for the index presentation of a previously undiagnosed inflammatory disease to be with cardiac tamponade.

We describe a case of a young woman who presented in the postpartum period with cardiac tamponade. Further investigations confirmed that the underlying diagnosis was systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

SLE can be associated with pericardial effusion but rarely causes cardiac tamponade. Herein, we describe a case of an index presentation of SLE in the postpartum period with a large pericardial effusion and tamponade. Cardiac imaging showed myocardial edema, reflective of associated myocarditis.

SLE can present in the immediate postpartum period, and acute management of tamponade in this context includes drainage of the effusion and immunosuppressive therapy.