An Acutely Unwell and Rare Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report

This case report discusses a 48-year-old Thai woman who presented with an acute and rare form of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), initially mimicking a viral illness with symptoms such as tachycardia, hypotension, and hypoxia. The patient was diagnosed with pericardial effusion and E. coli bacteremia, which initially suggested sepsis. However, further testing confirmed SLE with serositis. Treatment with high-dose prednisolone and antibiotics resulted in significant improvement. The report underscores the importance of considering autoimmune diseases like SLE in patients with multisystem symptoms and highlights the necessity of early recognition and treatment to improve patient outcomes.