Pseudo-pseudo Meig's syndrome presenting as an acute surgical abdomen: A rare entity and review of the literature.

Abstract

Pseudo-pseudo Meigs' syndrome is a rare entity of systemic lupus erythematosus, which is defined with the combination of pleural effusion, elevated serum CA-125 levels, and ascites. It has similar clinical aspects with gynecological malignancies which may lead gynecologists to perform unnecessary surgeries and lab workouts. This review seeks to point out the importance of diagnosing pseudo-pseudo Meig's syndrome (PPMS) and endeavors to inform gynecologists about the differential diagnoses. This article includes a review of the literature on different cases of PPMS. We searched the PubMed database using the search terms in various combinations "Pseudo-pseudo Meig's syndrome," "Tjalma syndrome," and "SLE." According to the current literature, a majority of internal medicine specialists recognized this clinical condition in the past few years and discussed PPMS as a new onset of systemic lupus erythematosus. PPMS is one of the disregarding entities where gynecologists do not consider it as a differential diagnosis in case of less awareness. When a gynecologist evaluates ascites manifesting as acute abdomen; ectopic pregnancy, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, cyst rupture, and malignancy come to mind first. Four-thirds of those patients evaluated by gynecologists were performed hysterectomy leading to unnecessary interventions and economic burden on the health system. Although the mechanism is unrevealed and remains unclear, PPMS has been noticed in the literature for the past few years. In order to prevent unnecessary interventions, this syndrome should be considered as a differential diagnosis.