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.