Ewha Med J.  2013 Sep;36(2):149-152. 10.12771/emj.2013.36.2.149.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome Presenting Variceal Bleeding in Patient with Systemic Anaerobic Bacterial Infection

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. junghk@ewha.ac.kr

Abstract

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is characterized by raised levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), in association with thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss, and thrombocytopenia. Development of APS is related with idiopathic origin, autoimmune disease, malignancy and, on rare occasions, infection. However, in secondary APS combined with bacterial infections, aPL is usually shown with low titer and rarely associated with thrombotic events. A 52-year-old male was admitted due to pneumonia and multiple hepatosplenic abscesses. He had been treated with proper antibiotics, but he presented ascites and sudden variceal bleeding because of portal vein thrombosis. The bleeding was controlled by endoscopic variceal ligation. Acute portal vein thrombosis was successfully managed by low molecular weight heparin and hepatosplenic abscesses were completely resolved by antibiotics. This case suggests that systemic bacterial infection in immunocompetent patients possibly develops into secondary APS.

Keyword

Abscess; Antiphospholipid syndrome; Portal vein thrombosis; Variceal bleeding

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Antiphospholipid Syndrome*
Ascites
Bacterial Infections*
Esophageal and Gastric Varices*
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage*
Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
Humans
Ligation
Male
Middle Aged
Pneumonia
Portal Vein
Thrombocytopenia
Venous Thrombosis
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Chest radiography showing collapse with consolidation on left lower lung field and air fluid level on left upper quadrant of abdomen.

  • Fig. 2 Computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrating a large splenic abscess with multiple liver abscesses.

  • Fig. 3 (A) Endoscopy showing tortuous gastric fundal varix with hematocyst. (B) Endoscopic variceal ligation controlling the bleeding.

  • Fig. 4 Abdomen ultrasound showing multifocal hypoechoic liver abscesses with intrahepatic portal vein thrombosis and ascites.


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