Early medical management of secondary anti-phospholipid syndrome decreases the risk of its thrombotic manifestations

Case report

English

A.F. Y. Zaied*, E. I. Gargoum**

*Department of Medicine, Garyounis University, **Department of Medicine, 7th October Hospital; Benghazi, Libya

JMJ Vol. 2, No. 3 (March 2003): 69-71

Abstract

A 33 years old Libyan housewife, known case of lupus erythematosus (SLE), was admitted for treatment of an acute attack of haemolytic anaemia. Two days later she had sudden onset of massive entire left lower limb painful swelling. Urgently confirmed by Doppler ultrasound to be a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of left iliofemoral veins, she was early diagnosed and medically managed as a complication of un recognized secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS). The possibility of primary or secondary APLS diagnosis is required in young patients presenting with arterial and/or venous thromboses manifestations especially, if it is associated with thrombocytopenia, prolongation of activated partial thromboplastine time (APTT) and /or prothrombin time (PT). As early start of medical treatment, including monitored anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy is required in such cases for immediate treatment and long term prophylaxis against numerous reported APLS serious complications

Keywords: secondary anti-phospholipid syndrome, thrombotic manifestation

Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1269