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Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients without systemic lupus erythematosus: neuroradiologic findings
J M Provenzale1, E R Heinz, T L Ortel
1Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Purpose:
To study neuroradiologic findings in patients with hypercoagulability due to antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs).
Materials And Methods:
Retrospective review of abnormal angiographic, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings was performed over a 14-month period in patients with APAs, no diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, age less than 65 years, and no other cause of a hypercoagulable state.
Results:
Fourteen patients (age range, 22-62 years) with APAs had abnormal results at neuroradiologic examination. Abnormal findings on cross-sectional imaging studies included large-artery (n = 3), lacunar (n = 5), and venous infarctions (n = 2); cortical atrophy (n = 5); white matter abnormalities (n = 3); and dural sinus thrombosis (n = 4). Abnormal angiographic findings included large-artery occlusions (n = 2), arterial narrowing that simulated vasculitis (n = 2), and transverse sinus thrombosis (n = 1).
Conclusion:
Presence of APAs should be suspected when no cause is apparent for either (a) an ischemic cerebrovascular event in young and middle-aged adults or (b) dural sinus or cerebral venous thrombosis (c) in patients with recurrent systemic arterial or venous thromboses, especially women with recurrent miscarriages.