Heart failure with multi-organ thrombosis: a case of antiphospholipid syndrome co-existing with cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease featured by venous or arterial thrombosis, fetal losses and thrombocytopenia in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Here we reported one case of antiphospholipid syndrome together with dilated cardiomyopathy. A 46-year-old female patient complaining short of breath was found enlargement of atrial and ventricular compartments. The ecletrocardiogram and blood test revealed anteroseptal myocardial infarction, while no pulmonary thrombosis was present and therefore diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy was made. There were also thrombi formed in the cardial chambers and deep venous. During hospitalization, there was an onset of ischemic brain stroke and head MRI showed newly developed small infarctions. An elevation of anticardiolipin immunoglobulin A (ACAIGA) was detected from the blood sample. The patient was discharged after being treated with anticoagulant, corticosteroid and other medicines for improving heart function. In our case, APS is the basic cause leading to multi-organ thrombosis and heart failure is mainly due to dilated cardiomyopathy, thus independent of APS. So this is the first time that cardiomyopathy co-existing with APS was reported.