Chronic catastrophic-like antiphospholipid syndrome: a “smoldering” variant?

• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-009-0913-8
• Publication Date: 2009-04-16T06:08:47Z
• Authors: Daniel Athanazio; Maria Cristina Rocha; Túlio Geraldo de ...; Natália Oliveira ...; Sérgio Jezler; Mittermayer Barre...
• Keywords: Antiphospholipid Syndrome; 3. Good health; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; 0302 clinical medicine; Chronic Disease; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Catastrophic Illness; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Immunosuppressive Agents

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is characterized by life-threatening diffuse thrombotic manifestations involving particularly small vessels of kidney, lungs, brain and skin. We report a 20-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome who presented typical organ and histological involvement as seen in CAPS but with protracted course suggesting a “smoldering” form of the disease.