Antiphospholipid syndrome: a survey of clinical characters in ten cases.
OBJECTIVE
To gain further understanding of the antiphospholipid syndrome(APS).


METHODS
Analysing clinical and laboratory data on ten cases of APS.


RESULTS
Thrombocytopenia appeared in all cases. Venous thrombi of limbs appeared in five cases and neurological abnormalities in two cases. Renal impairments were found in three cases. One case manifested left renal venous thrombi and the other two cases thrombotic microangiopathy. Budd-Chiari syndrome was found in one case. One of the ten cases was catastrophic APS (CAPS) presented as acute diffuse swelling, cyanosis, pain, ischemia and necrosis in fingers and limbs, recurrent shock, ascites, hepatic and respiratory dysfunction. Anticoagulants and corticosteroids could be effective for dealing with APS. It was critical to treat catastrophic APS with anticoagulants or plasmapheresis as early as possible.


CONCLUSIONS
APS shows variable manifestations for good prognosis, but catastrophic APS has fatal risk. The main treatment for APS is the use of anticoagulants and immunosuppressives.
Chen
Li-hua
LH
Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. chenlihua-y@163.com
Jiang
Ling-ling
LL
Li
You-ming
YM
Peng
Qing-bi
QB
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000925:Anticoagulants; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents