Late onset systemic lupus erythematosus with lichen planus-like eruption and cardiac tamponade

A 71-year-old Japanese woman is reported as a case of late onset systemic l upus erythematosus (SLE) with lichen planus (LP)-like eruption and cardiac tamponade. As an initial symptom, our patient had cutaneous lesions clinica lly and histologically resembling LP. and then the passage of time allowed for the development of additional criteria (lymphopenia, pericarditis) unti l the diagnosis of SLE could be made. Our case suggests that LP-like erupti ons may be one of the unusual variations of late onset SLE and elderly pati ents with LP-like eruptions should be carefully followed until a final diag nosis can be clearly made.