title: A patient with pleuritic chest pain and abnormal blood clotting tests.
abstract: We present the case of a 58 year old man who developed pleuritic chest while an in-patient; investigations revealed pulmonary embolism, despite a significantly raised Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), which was subsequently attributed to Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The diagnosis and initial management of APS in the acute setting is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Darlington Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vamvakidou
authors.affiliation: Bishop Auckland Hospital.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Konstantinou
authors.affiliation: Consultant Rehabilitation Medicine, Bishop Auckland Hospital.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salam
authors.affiliation: Consultant Haematologist, Darlington Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time / Q000379:methods*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000150:complications*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight