We report the case of a 16-year-old female who developed pulmonary infection due to Pneumocystis carinii within 3 months of the clinical diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Steroid therapy doses never exceeded Prednisone 40 mg/day, and no cytotoxic drugs were used. The case presents several unique aspects of importance to clinicians caring for adolescents with SLE.