Occlusive vasculopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus. Association with anticardiolipin antibody

S G Greisman1, R S Thayaparan, T A Godwin

  • 1Department of Medicine, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY 10019.

Insights

Systemic lupus erythematosus patients with antiphospholipid antibodies can experience catastrophic vascular occlusions. Treatment may benefit from plasmapheresis and anticoagulation, not immunosuppressants.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are associated with vascular events.
  • Sudden occlusion of multiple blood vessels can occur in affected patients.

Observation:

  • Two cases of SLE with high-titer aPL presented with acute, widespread, non-inflammatory visceral vascular occlusions.
  • Histopathology differentiated these cases from typical SLE vasculitis.

Findings:

  • The observed vascular occlusions were non-inflammatory.
  • High-titer antiphospholipid antibodies were present in both patients.

Implications:

  • Steroids and immunosuppressants may have limited efficacy due to the non-inflammatory nature of the occlusion.
  • Plasmapheresis combined with anticoagulant therapy is suggested as a potential treatment strategy.

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