A Case of Tjalma Syndrome Coincidentally Accompanied by an Ovarian Teratoma Successfully Treated with Intravenous Immunoglobulin-G Adjunctive Therapy

Abstract

Tjalma or pseudo-pseudo Meigs' syndrome is a clinical condition that is characterized with ascites, pleural effusion, and increased serum CA-125 levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without the presence of ovarian tumor. On the other hand, Meigs' and pseudo-Meigs' syndromes represent the same manifestations with ovarian tumor. In this case report, we present a 43-year-old SLE patient suffering from Tjalma syndrome with the coexistence of incidental ovarian teratoma, who was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin-G adjunctive therapy after inadequate response to surgical excision of the ovarian tumor, steroid, and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy.