title: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome presented with abdominal, pulmonary, and bone marrow complications.
abstract: We are presenting a case of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in an adult female manifesting with abdominal thrombosis, pancytopenia, and alveolar hemorrhage. Alveolar hemorrhage is infrequently reported as it is difficult to diagnose, but it is considered as a life-threatening condition. The diagnosis should be made promptly based on clinical symptoms coupled with radiological features. Once this diagnosis is suspected, treatment with corticosteroids and anticoagulation must be initiated as soon as possible in order to reduce severe morbidity and high mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine "B", Rambam Health Care Center, P.O. Box 9602, 31096 Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Badira F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Makhoul
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guralnik
authors.forename: Zaher S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Azzam
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D013256:Steroids