[Cardiac abnormalities in antiphospholipid syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).


METHODS
The cases of 72 patients with defined APS admitted from Jan 1990 to Jan 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
21 patients with primary APS and 51 patients with secondary APS were studied. Vascular thrombosis was present in 43 (59.7%) of the 72 patients in this study. Cardiac abnormalities could be observed in 48 patients (66.6%). Lesions most frequently involved left-sided valves, mitral (35.4%) more commonly affected than aortic (16.7%). Cardiac involvement was significantly related to thrombosis (P = 0.007) and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (P = 0.026). Valvular involvement was significantly related to brain infarcts (P = 0.008) and thrombosis (P = 0.029). 20 APS patients with cardiac abnormalities and thrombosis received anticoagulation therapy and thrombosis did not happen any more during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac manifestations of APS are valve abnormalities (valve thickening and vegetations), occlusive arterial disease (atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction), ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. Cardiac abnormalities in APS are likely to be related to hypercoagulability.
Meng
Xiao-mei
XM
Department of Cardiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Zhao
Yan
Y
Fang
Li-gang
LG
Yan
Xiao-wei
XW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000032:analysis; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor