title: Asymptomatic intracardiac thrombi and primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Granel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serratrice
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christides
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swiader
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pache
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caus
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Disdier
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weiller
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid