All that seems sepsis is not sepsis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Immunology

Background:

• Catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (CAPS) is a severe, life-threatening condition.
• CAPS shares clinical and pathological features with severe sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
• Infections are recognized as common triggers for CAPS, necessitating prompt recognition.

Observation:

• A 42-year-old woman presented with postoperative SIRS.
• The patient's condition rapidly progressed, indicating a severe systemic inflammatory state.
• Diagnostic workup ultimately identified Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (CAPS) as the underlying cause.

Findings:

• The patient's postoperative SIRS was a manifestation of underlying CAPS.
• The case highlights the diagnostic challenge in differentiating CAPS from sepsis-like syndromes.
• Aggressive management was initiated upon diagnosis of CAPS.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering CAPS in patients presenting with SIRS, especially postoperatively.
• Timely diagnosis and intervention in CAPS can potentially improve patient outcomes.
• Further research into differentiating CAPS from sepsis is warranted to optimize patient care.