J Rheum Dis.  2014 Apr;21(2):74-76. 10.4078/jrd.2014.21.2.74.

A Case of Refractory Headache with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Improved by High-Intensity Warfarin Medication

• Cho KH
• Yang JG
• Kim JS
• Lee SW

• KMID: 2094660
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2014.21.2.74

Abstract

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a coagulation disorder associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Headache is common in APS patients and often unresponsive to analgesics. We report a case of refractory headache in a patient with APS, who was improved by high-intensity warfarin treatment. The mechanisms of the headache in patients with APS were presumed to be hypercoagulability of microcirculation and thrombotic occlusion of the capillaries, which were associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Therefore, high-intensity warfarin could be considered as one of the treatments for refractory headache in patients with APS.

Keyword

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; Headache; Warfarin

MeSH Terms

Analgesics
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Antiphospholipid Syndrome*
Capillaries
Headache*
Humans
Microcirculation
Thrombophilia
Warfarin*
Analgesics
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Warfarin

Figure

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  Figure 1. Brain MRI of the patient. (A, B) FLAIR and T-weighted image show cerebral infarction in the left insular cortex. (C) MR angiography reveals no stenotic lesion in intracranial arteries.

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