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Review
. 2019 Sep 16;12(9):e230863.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2019-230863.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy: a life-threatening condition

Mandy Collict  1 , Whitney Sciberras Buhagiar  1 , Cecilia Mercieca  2 , John Thake  1
Affiliations
Review

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy: a life-threatening condition

Mandy Collict et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening variant of the antiphospholipid syndrome which is characterised by multiple small vessel thrombosis which can lead to multiorgan failure. CAPS is a clinical emergency which all clinicians need to be aware of because early diagnosis and treatment may improve maternal and fetal outcome. Here, we report a case of CAPS in pregnancy in a 31-year-old female patient who presented at 28 weeks of gestation. A literature review of CAPS in pregnancy and the puerperium is also included.

Keywords: Drugs And Medicines; Pregnancy; Rheumatology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MR cardiac—T2 short axis view through the heart showing small pericardial effusion (arrow).
Figure 2
Figure 2
MR brain—diffusion-weighted axial image showing foci of restricted diffusion in periventricular white matter consistent with acute ischaemia (arrows).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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