title: Antiphospholipid syndrome and the heart: a case series and literature review.
abstract: Antiphospholipid syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by a high tendency of developing thrombotic events. It is diagnosed in the presence of specific laboratory criteria (positivity for lupus anticoagulant, and the presence of anticardiolipin and aβ2GPI antibodies) and clinical criteria such as thrombosis in any district (arterial or venous) and pregnancy morbidity. Being a multisystem disease, the heart is commonly affected by direct (autoimmune mediated action) or indirect (thrombosis) pathological mechanisms. Heart valve lesions are the most frequent manifestations; however, the haemodynamic significance is quite uncommon but when it occurs it may require surgery that further complicates the picture due to the high risk of thrombosis. Coronary arteries and myocardium are also affected leading to ischaemic heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Other findings include chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and accelerated atherosclerosis. The consequences of heart involvement may be significant in overt disease. The treatment of cardiac complications is challenging and requires an in-depth knowledge of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Thrombosis Centre, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Gentian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Denas
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Thrombosis Centre, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Seema Padayattil
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Thrombosis Centre, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bracco
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Thrombosis Centre, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zoppellaro
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Thrombosis Centre, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. Electronic address: vittorio.pengo@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pengo
mesh_terms: D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000276:immunology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Antiphospholipid syndrome; Heart involvement; Lupus anticoagulant; aβ2GPI