Antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by veno-arterial thrombosis, adverse outcomes in pregnancy and raised titres of antiphospholipid antibodies. The catastrophic variant is rare and makes up less than 1% of cases but carries a high mortality. We present a case of probable catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) presenting shortly after toe amputation under general anaesthesia.
AshersonRA. The catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. J Rheumatol1992;19: 508–12.
2.
BucciarelliSEspinosaGCerveraR. Mortality in the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. Causes of death and prognostic factors in a series of 250 patients. Arthritis Rheum2006;54: 2568–76.
3.
AshersonRCerveraRde GrootP. Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: international consensus statement on classification criteria and treatment guidelines. Lupus2003;12: 530–34.
4.
CerveraRFontJGómez-PuertaJEspanosaG. Validation of the preliminary criteria for the classification of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis2005;64: 1205–09.
5.
KitchensCS. Thrombotic storm: When thrombosis begets thrombosis. Am J Med1998;104: 381–85.
6.
AshersonREspinosaGCerveraR. Disseminated intravascular coagulation in catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: clinical and haematological characteristics of 23 patients. Ann Rheum Dis2005;64: 943–46.
7.
EspinosaGCerveraRAshersonR. Editorial: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome and sepsis. A common link?J Rheumatol2007; 34: 923–26.
8.
GalliMBarburiT. Antiprothrombin antibodoes: Detection and clinical significance in the antiphospholipd syndrome. Blood1999; 93: 2149–57.
9.
GreavesMCohenHMachinSMackieI. Guidelines on the investigation and management of the antiphospholipid syndrome. Br J Haematol2000;109: 704–15.
