“Catastrophic” Diagnosis of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Jean-Charles Piette, Zahir Amoura, Anne Foucher-Lavergne
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters16 November 1999"Catastrophic" Diagnosis of the Antiphospholipid SyndromeJean-Charles Piette, MD, Zahir Amoura, MD, and Anne Foucher-Lavergne, MDJean-Charles Piette, MDHôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Piette)Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Amoura)Hôpital Lariboisière; 75010 Paris, France (Foucher-Lavergne), Zahir Amoura, MDHôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Piette)Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Amoura)Hôpital Lariboisière; 75010 Paris, France (Foucher-Lavergne), and Anne Foucher-Lavergne, MDHôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Piette)Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Amoura)Hôpital Lariboisière; 75010 Paris, France (Foucher-Lavergne)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-10-199911160-00036 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:A 41-year-old male smoker developed blurred vision, right arm weakness, and aphasia. Examination showed no heart murmur and multiple subungual hemorrhages. Lupus anticoagulant was detected, with low levels of anticardiolipin and antinuclear antibodies and no cryoglobulin, double-stranded DNA, or extracted nuclear antigen antibodies. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a left parietal infarction. Echocardiography revealed mitral vegetations (Figure). Funduscopy showed retinal vein occlusion. Blood cultures remained negative.Figure 2. Transesophageal echocardiogram.Large nodular vegetations are present on free margins of both mitral leaflets. Download figure Download PowerPoint The patient was ...References1. Cervera R, Font J, Ingelmo M. Cardiac manifestations in the antiphospholipid syndrome.. In: Asherson RA, Cervera R, Piette JC, Shoenfeld Y, eds. The Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Pr; 1996:151-60. Google Scholar2. Asherson RA, Cervera R, Piette JC, Font J, Lie JT, Burcoglu A, et al . Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. Clinical and laboratory features of 50 patients. Medicine (Baltimore). 1998;77:195-207. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Piette JC, Cacoub P. Antiphospholipid syndrome in the elderly: caution [Editorial]. Circulation. 1998;97:2195-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Ruffatti A, Aversa S, Del Ross T, Tonetto S, Fiorentino M, Todesco S. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome associated with ovarian cancer. A new paraneoplastic syndrome? J Rheumatol. 1994;21:2162-3. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Bessis D, Sotto A, Viard JP, Bérnard M, Ciurana AJ, Boffa MC. Trousseau's syndrome with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis: pathogenic role of antiphospholipid syndrome. Am J Med. 1995;98:511-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Piette)Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière; 75013 Paris, France (Amoura)Hôpital Lariboisière; 75010 Paris, France (Foucher-Lavergne) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByCatastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome associated with malignancies (case report and review of the literature)Antiphospholipid Antibodies Associated with Malignancies: Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of 120 PatientsCatastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome 16 November 1999Volume 131, Issue 10Page: 798-799KeywordsAdenocarcinomaAntibodiesAnticoagulantsAntiphospholipid syndromeBiopsyEndocarditisHemorrhageInfarctionMagnetic resonance imagingWeight loss Issue Published: 16 November 1999 CopyrightCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...