The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare but highly fatal clinical syndrome that occurs in up to 1% of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The diagnosis of CAPS is often delayed because its presentation with multiple organ thromboses can be confused with other thrombotic mi...

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Main Authors: Myat Han Soe, Krishna Adit Agarwal, Alueshima Akough-Weir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4693037
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author Myat Han Soe
Krishna Adit Agarwal
Alueshima Akough-Weir
author_facet Myat Han Soe
Krishna Adit Agarwal
Alueshima Akough-Weir
author_sort Myat Han Soe
collection DOAJ
description Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare but highly fatal clinical syndrome that occurs in up to 1% of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The diagnosis of CAPS is often delayed because its presentation with multiple organ thromboses can be confused with other thrombotic microangiopathies and severe sepsis. We report a case of CAPS in a patient with APS and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting with thrombotic storm precipitated by trauma, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, and noncompliance with anticoagulation therapy. Our case reflects the “two-hit hypothesis” of APS in which the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (first hit) increases the thrombophilic risk, and thromboses take place in the presence of another thrombophilic condition such as CMV infection in our case. In this case review, we discuss the diagnostic challenges and management of CAPS. In clinical practice, we aim to stress the importance of thorough evaluation and management of precipitating events such as infections in addition to timely diagnosis and treatment of this catastrophic clinical entity.
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spelling doaj-art-ec3b7cbb4e7e480e84f2a67ec5a323872025-08-20T03:21:24ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352018-01-01201810.1155/2018/46930374693037The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody SyndromeMyat Han Soe0Krishna Adit Agarwal1Alueshima Akough-Weir2Department of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA, USADepartment of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA, USADepartment of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Springfield, MA, USACatastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare but highly fatal clinical syndrome that occurs in up to 1% of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The diagnosis of CAPS is often delayed because its presentation with multiple organ thromboses can be confused with other thrombotic microangiopathies and severe sepsis. We report a case of CAPS in a patient with APS and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting with thrombotic storm precipitated by trauma, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, and noncompliance with anticoagulation therapy. Our case reflects the “two-hit hypothesis” of APS in which the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (first hit) increases the thrombophilic risk, and thromboses take place in the presence of another thrombophilic condition such as CMV infection in our case. In this case review, we discuss the diagnostic challenges and management of CAPS. In clinical practice, we aim to stress the importance of thorough evaluation and management of precipitating events such as infections in addition to timely diagnosis and treatment of this catastrophic clinical entity.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4693037
spellingShingle Myat Han Soe
Krishna Adit Agarwal
Alueshima Akough-Weir
The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
Case Reports in Medicine
title The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
title_full The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
title_fullStr The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
title_full_unstemmed The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
title_short The Wolf Hidden behind the Clots: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
title_sort wolf hidden behind the clots catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4693037
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