Asymptomatic intracardiac thrombi and primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
Intracardiac thrombi have rarely been reported in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome. We describe a new case revealed by systematic echocardiography in an asymptomatic woman who consulted for mild thrombocytopenia. Our case is characterized by a past history of migraine, fetal loss and psychiatric disturbances and by a high level of antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin, anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I and lupus anticoagulant). Echography, in the absence of any cardiovascular symptom, showed bulky right intra-atrial thrombi requiring surgical excision. Histopathological analysis revealed the fibrino-cruoric nature of the lesion without myxoma. This case shows that, when faced with a mild thrombocytopenia associated with antiphospholipid antibodies, echocardiography may reveal a life-threatening and completely asymptomatic intracardiac thrombosis.
Granel
B
B
Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
Garcia
E
E
Serratrice
J
J
Christides
C
C
Swiader
L
L
Pache
X
X
Caus
T
T
Disdier
P
P
Weiller
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid