title: Mesenteric vein thrombosis triggered by blunt abdominal trauma in a patient with the primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: The antiphospholipid syndrome is defined by the presence of autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies in serum together with venous, arterial or small-vessel thrombosis and/or morbidity with pregnancy. Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis represents a rare complication associated with this syndrome; triggering events such as surgical procedures, drug administration and anticoagulation withdrawal have been reported. We describe a case of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis triggered by blunt abdominal trauma in a 47-year-old man with the primary antiphospholipid syndrome. It confirms a previous report describing a patient suffering from the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome after a fall. This provides evidence, previously unreported, for the possible role of trauma as a precipitating factor leading to thrombosis, even in cases of 'simple' antiphospholipid syndromes. Our patient required extensive small-bowel resection but could be discharged after complete recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Academic Hospital Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels. michael.fried@azx.vub.ac.be
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Ganse
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Avermaet
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000209:etiology*; D008642:Mesenteric Veins; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*