ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY SYNDROME MIMICKING MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS CLINICALLY AND BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, frequently seen in young indiv iduals, is often associated with transient ischemic attacks or strokes . In some cases, this syndrome may be difficult to distinguish from ex acerbating and remitting multiple sclerosis. We report four such cases . In addition, the finding of hyperintense signals on magnetic resonan ce imaging in multiple sclerosis may also be seen in the antiphospholi pid antibody syndrome, as demonstrated in these cases. Small strokes t hat affect the white matter in the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome may be misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis.