title: Antiphospholipid syndrome in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition characterized by a thrombotic event and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of persistently elevated antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody titers, which are most prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus but also have been associated with other autoimmune, malignant, and infectious diseases. In contrast to the clear correlation between high aPL antibody titers and thrombotic events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, the pathogenic role of these autoantibodies in association with other diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is not as well defined. We report a case of APS manifesting as cutaneous ulceration and necrosis in a patient with severe RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Worswick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid