Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome masquerading as ischaemic colitis

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome masquerading as ischaemic colitis
Creators Name:	Juergensen, J.S. and Kettritz, R. and Schneider, W. and Koop, H. and Hildebrand, T.S. and Frei, U. and Eckardt, K.U.
Abstract:	We describe a young woman whose initial presentation was dominated by acute diarrhoea. Life-threatening multiorgan failure rapidly ensued and necessitated mechanical ventilation and dialysis treatment. An initially elongated activated partial thromboplastin time prompted further coagulation tests that led to the detection of positive lupus anticoagulant, a highly elevated IgG-anticardiolipin (aCL) antibody titre, and prolonged dilute Russell's viper venom time. Histological examination of samples obtained during endoscopy revealed widespread intestinal thrombotic microangiopathy. In view of these serologic and histologic features, a diagnosis of the malignant variant of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also termed 'catastrophic APS', was established. In spite of this syndrome's grim prognosis, the patient recovered following intensive anticoagulation and adjunct treatment with steroids and immunoglobulins.
Keywords:	Anticardiolipin Antibody, Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Diarrhoea, Lupus Anticoagulant, Multiple Organ Failure
Source:	Rheumatology international
ISSN:	0172-8172
Publisher:	Springer
Volume:	23
Number:	4
Page Range:	204-206
Date:	July 2003
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0296-1
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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