Abstract

MERINE, María Antonela; ROJAS LLANOS, Georgina  and  GONZALEZ, Alejandra. Alveolar Hemorrhage as a Manifestation of Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Rev. am. med. respir. [online]. 2023, vol.23, n.4, pp.338-341. ISSN 1852-236X.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an entity characterized by thrombotic phenomena (arterial and/or venous), fetal losses, and persistent increase in the serum level of antiphospholipid antibodies.

The most common pulmonary complications of APS are pulmonary thromboembolism and thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Alveolar hemorrhage is a rare, potentially life-threatening manifestation (catastrophic APS). The diagnosis is confirmed when more than 20 % of the macrophages in a sample taken by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are positive for hemosiderin. Radiographic findings most commonly show ground-glass opacities or consolidations that are usually diffuse, bilateral, more central than peripheral. The DLCO is another diagnostic method, with values above 120 % of the predicted value.

We present the case of a patient with APS with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and anticoagulated pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), who was admitted with a diagnosis of alveolar hemorrhage (AH).

Keywords : Primary antiphospholipid syndrome; Alveolar hemorrhage.

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