Hepatic infarction in a patient with the lupus anticoagulant

We describe a 31-year-old patient with missed abortion, thrombocytopenia, and clinical, laboratory, and radiologic evidence of hepatic infarction. On evaluation, she was found to have the lupus anticoagulant. The association between enhanced thrombosis and the lupus anticoagulant is discussed, and previously reported thrombotic complications are described. The etiology, clinical course, and radiologic features of liver infarction are summarized, and the importance of recognizing and treating this form of hypercoagulability is stressed. To our knowledge, this is the first description of liver infarction associated with the lupus anticoagulant.