1. Infant with probable catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome successfully managed with rituximab.
- Author
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Iglesias-Jiménez E, Camacho-Lovillo M, Falcón-Neyra D, Lirola-Cruz J, and Neth O
- Subjects
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic blood, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived, Antiphospholipid Syndrome diagnosis, Antiphospholipid Syndrome immunology, Antiphospholipid Syndrome pathology, Combined Modality Therapy, Drug Therapy, Combination, Humans, Infant, Male, Rituximab, Skin pathology, beta 2-Glycoprotein I immunology, Antibodies, Monoclonal therapeutic use, Antiphospholipid Syndrome drug therapy, Immunologic Factors therapeutic use
- Abstract
The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired thrombophilic disorder characterized by the presence of autoantibodies to a variety of phospholipids and phospholipid-binding proteins. Clinical manifestations range from being asymptomatic to having imminently life-threatening events. Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) occurs in <1% of patients with APS and is defined by multiple small-vessel occlusions that lead to multiple-organ failure and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Here we report the case of a 3-month-old boy with probable CAPS who presented to us with digital necrosis and pulmonary hemorrhage. In addition, a skin biopsy demonstrated multiple small-vessel thromboses without signs of vasculitis. Results of testing for autoantibodies were positive for anti-beta(2) glycoprotein I (anti-beta(2)-GPI) only. His treatment consisted of high-dose steroids, immunoglobulin therapy, exchange transfusion, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab as well as iloprost and bosentan as vasodilators for his ischemia; he showed an excellent clinical response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest patient with probable CAPS, the first reported patient to test positive for anti-beta(2)-GPI antibodies and negative for anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, and the second patient reported to be successfully treated with an immunomodulatory regimen including rituximab.
- Published
- 2010
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