Cardiac tamponade as an initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus in a child.

Cardiac involvement is a rare initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus. An 11-year-old girl was described to have massive haemorrhagic pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, which was later diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus. Therefore, in children presenting with cardiac tamponade, systemic lupus erythematosus should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses, as morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac tamponade can be dramatically reduced with early diagnosis and use of steroids.