Pancarditis as initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder with cardiac involvement in about 50% of cases, yet clinically significant lesions are less common. SLE with pancarditis at initial presentation has so far not been reported. We present a rare case of SLE with culture negative endocarditis, reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and mild pericardial effusion. Treatment with steroids showed improvement in cardiac contractile function and mitral valve vegetations disappeared over 3 months. In a case of pancarditis with culture negative endocarditis, SLE as a possibility must be explored. After excluding infective endocarditis, a short trial of high dose corticosteroids effects overall improvement in carditis of SLE.