DIAGNOSIS OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS IN AN ELDERLY MALE BY PERICARDIAL FLUID CYTOLOGY - A CASE-REPORT

Although pleural and pericardial effusions are common and may rarely b e the initial manifestation of disease, there are few reports of SLE d iagnosed in a cytopathology laboratory. We describe an unusual case of SLE in a 75-year-old man who presented with cardiac tamponade. Cytolo gic examination of the pericardial fluid revealed numerous LE cells an d led to the diagnosis of SLE. This case illustrates the importance of careful evaluation of a serous effusion for LE cells in patients of e ither gender and of any age. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.