Antiphospholipid syndrome complicated by thrombosis of the superior mesenteric artery, co-existence of smooth muscle hyperplasia

Intern Med. 1997 Jul;36(7):528-31. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.36.528.

Abstract

A 37-year-old woman underwent an emergency operation at our hospital because of severe abdominal pain and ileus. Most of her small intestine and ascending colon were observed to have become necrotic due to occlusion of her superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Pathological findings of the resected intestine revealed that her SMA was completely thrombosed 2 cm distal from its origin with smooth muscle proliferation. Post-surgical blood analysis of her pre-operative serum was positive for lupus anticoagulant and antinuclear antibodies. She noticed vaginal bleeding due to missed abortion on the 31st day after the operation. We diagnosed her acute abdominal pain to be that of antiphospholipid syndrome associated with her pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Abortion, Missed / etiology
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / etiology
  • Adult
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / blood
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / complications*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / blood
  • Autoimmune Diseases / complications*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Female
  • Hematuria / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / etiology*
  • Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / surgery
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / blood
  • Mesenteric Artery, Superior* / pathology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / pathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications / immunology
  • Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome / etiology*
  • Thrombosis / etiology*

Substances

  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor