Cardiac tamponade and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections in a 22-year-old woman.

The association of IgA deficiency with SLE is clearly established but occurs in only a small percentage of patients. Several hypotheses address the relationship between the two disease processes but the common link remains undetermined. It is important to investigate the diagnosis of IgA deficiency in patients presenting with SLE in order to provide the most appropriate treatment. This patient not only represents a rare presentation of SLE but highlights the uncommon occurrence with IgA deficiency and brings forth valuable teaching points of both diseases.