Concomitant Pericardial Effusion and Pulmonary Embolism Secondary to a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome: A Rare Case Report

Background: Association of pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion is rarely described in the literature, it is associated in the majority of cases with a neoplastic origin followed by a tuberculous origin. Within the limits of our research, no cases of lupus associated with antiphospholipid syndrome have been reported.

Case Report: We illustrate a case of a 25-year-old patient, presenting with respiratory discomfort and palpitations and in whom echocardiography shows a pericardial tamponade. The realization of athoracic CT angiography shows a concomitant pulmonary embolism. The etiological assessment poses the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated to antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Conclusions: Pulmonary embolism and pericardial effusion can be life-threatening for the patient. This association highlights a difficult clinical dilemma with regard to anticoagulation in the presence of pericardial effusion, which remains a relative contraindication to anticoagulation.