Anticardiolipin antibodies associated with alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Anticardiolipin antibodies are associated with arterial and venous thrombosis, and repetitive miscarriages. The involvement of the heart has been described frequently and can evolve into cardiomyopathy. It has been known for some decades that chronic alcoholism can lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether anticardiolipin antibodies represent a worse prognosis for patients with ACM. The authors present a case of a chronic alcoholic patient (30 y of alcoholism) who died at 44 y of age, and who was considered positive for anticardiolipin antibodies. The patient developed deep vein thrombosis, and peripheral arterial and pulmonary embolism. The presence of another risk factor seems to represent a worse prognosis for patients with ACM.
de Godoy
José Maria Pereira
JM
Department of Cardiology and Vascular Surgery, São José do Rio Preto University School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. godoyjmp@riopreto.com.br
de Godoy
Moacir Fernandes
MF
Braile
Domingo Marcolino
DM
D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002310:Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000276:immunology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000276:immunology*
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin