Myopericarditis and Pericardial Effusion as the Initial Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Patient with Sickle Cell Trait: A Case Report.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with rare but severe cardiac manifestations, including myocarditis and pericarditis. The coexistence of SLE with sickle cell trait (SCT), an inherited hemoglobinopathy prevalent among individuals of African descent, is exceptionally rare and presents significant diagnostic challenges due to overlapping clinical features. To describe the case of an Afro-Ecuadorian male with SLE and sickle cell trait who developed an uncommon presentation of myopericarditis and pericardial effusion.