Thrombotic microangiopathic nephropathy in scleroderma and lupus anticoagulant

A 47-year-old woman with overlap scleroderma-polymyositis syndrome and positive circulating lupus anticoagulant developed scleroderma nephropathy, characterized by rapidly progressive renal failure caused by thrombotic microangiopathy with widespread thrombi in small arteries and glomeruli. The possible relationship between lupus anticoagulant and the development of thrombosis at the small renal vessels level with the triggering of the scleroderma crisis is discussed.