title: Coexistence of the antiphospholipid syndrome and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: The antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by recurrent fetal loss, venous and/or arterial thrombosis, and thrombocytopenia associated with elevated titers of lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies. Although thrombosis is the characteristic vascular involvement in APS, the development of vascular aneurysms in patients with APS has been reported. We describe four patients with established APS who developed abdominal aortic aneurysm, and review the literature on previous published cases of arterial aneurysms developing in patients with APS. In addition, we discuss the possible pathophysiological association between APS and the development of this vascular abnormality.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autoimmune Diseases and Department of Medicine B, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szyper-Kravitz
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.forename: Jozélio Freire
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellisai
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eshet
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor