title: Delayed catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome after massive cerebral infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a life-threatening disorder urgent for aggressive treatment, and its characterized systemic thromboses and coagulopathy prompt for a rapid diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A woman fell into unconsciousness two weeks after a stable course of massive cerebral ischemia was identified due to CAPS with Sjogren syndrome. Her thrombocyte count and coagulation times were was normal at initial. A high blood anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibody level was found. Plasmapheresis rapidly reversed her consciousness and coagulation function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A normal hemostatic parameters should not exclude CAPS. A favorable prognosis depends on the rapidity of appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Neurocritical Care Unit, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, and School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan. e49130@ms14.hinet.net
authors.forename: Wei Hsi
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hung Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yi Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Jia Shou
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002388:Catastrophic Illness; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology