[Isolated memory disorders disclosing antiphospholipid antibody syndrome]

Most of the neurological complications of the antiphospholipid syndrome are consequences of arterial or venous cerebral thromboses. We report the case of a 46-year-old woman presenting with the main signs of antiphospholipid syndrome: Raynaud's phenomenon, livedo, leg ulcers, repeated miscarriages, presence of a circulating anticoagulant and of antiphospholipid antibodies, who developed an isolated amnestic syndrome with a peculiar pattern; 1) almost complete sparing of the ability to learn new skills and of short-term recall; 2) deterioration, followed by disappearance of recent memories after a sufficient delay; 3) progressive alteration of increasingly old memories including knowledge memory suggested a gradual alteration of mnestic traces. The lack of neuroradiological signs of multiple infarcts suggests a direct intervention of antibodies in this patient's memorisation mechanisms.