A reversible bilateral renal artery stenosis in association with Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Abstract

We describe a 26-year-old white female with a history of Raynaud phenomenon, erythema nodosum, polyarthralgias, migraine, vertigo, seizures, transient ischemic attacks, one fetal loss, and false positive VDRL, who developed milk hypertension without overt lupus nephritis. She had positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) antibodies. The lupus anticoagulant test (LAC) and cardiolipins antibodies (aCL) were positive. She was diagnosed as having a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-like illness (SLE-like) with ‘secondary’ antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Renal spiral computed tomography (CT) with intravenous (IV) contrast showed bilateral renal artery stenosis. Anticoagulation with acenocumarol was started. She became normotensive without antihypertensive drugs five months later. A follow-up renal spiral CT showed complete recanalization of both renal arteries, making thrombosis the more likely culprit pathology in the stenosis. After two years follow up the patient is normotensive. She remains on acenocumarol.