J Rheum Dis.  2011 Mar;18(1):46-49. 10.4078/jrd.2011.18.1.46.

A Case of Secondary Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome with Thyroid Cancer

• Kang SH
• Choi SJ
• Lee YH
• Ji JD
• Song GG

• KMID: 2223182
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2011.18.1.46

Abstract

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is defined as the presence of lupus anticoagulant antibody or anticardiolipin antibody with vascular thrombosis or pregnancy complications. APS can be associated with autoimmune disease or infectious disease. APS has also been reported in conjunction with variety of solid and hematologic malignancies. There were some reports on APS which were accompanied by hematologic malignancy, but there was no report with solid malignancy in Korea. We experienced one case of secondary APS, which was diagnosed during pre-operative evaluation of thyroid cancer. This patient had prolonged aPTT (activate partial thromboplastin time) and decreased coagulation factors which were regarded as hemophilia at first. Although the precise mechanism of the relationship between APS and cancer has not been proven thoroughly, APS can be accompanied by various malignancies. So proper screening and early detection of malignancies in APS patients are recommended.

Keyword

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; Malignancy; Thyroid cancer

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Autoimmune Diseases
Blood Coagulation Factors
Communicable Diseases
Hematologic Neoplasms
Hemophilia A
Humans
Korea
Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
Mass Screening
Pregnancy Complications
Thromboplastin
Thrombosis
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Blood Coagulation Factors
Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
Thromboplastin

Figure

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  Figure 1. Doppler ultrasound showed filling defects in the cutaneous femoral vein.

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  Figure 2. Scar-changed typical reticular erythema (livedo racemosa) was observed on the ankles of the patient.

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  Figure 3. Pre-enhanced CT scan of the patient's neck showed hypodense lesion in the left lower pole of the thyroid (arrow).

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  Figure 4. Pathology specimen of thyroid showed capsular invasion of a papillary type adenocarcinoma (H & E stain, ×100).

Reference

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