Introduction:
Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) is a gut motility disorder resulting
in impairment of intestinal peristalsis leading to severe obstructive
symptoms without mechanical causes. Rarely, it can be a manifestation of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [1]. The prevalence of IPO in a
series of hospitalized patients with SLE is about 2% [2].
SLE-related IPO is associated with increased morbidity and mortality,
mostly if misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated [2]. We report a case
of IPO as first manifestation of SLE to highlight the importance of
early recognition of the diagnosis and so avoid unnecessary surgery
especially that SLE-related IPO responds well to corticosteroids.