CATASTROPHIC ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY SYNDROME PRESENTING WITH MULTIPLE THROMBOSES AND SITES OF AVASCULAR NECROSIS

We describe the case of a 25-year-old woman who presented with the ant iphospholipid antibody; syndrome (APS) manifesting as hemolytic anemia , thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency, thromboses in multiple sites including skin, spleen and nasal mucosa, and multiple sites of avascul ar necrosis of bone. Interestingly, she also had low grade disseminate d intravascular coagulation, which has been suggested to be a mechanis m for avascular necrosis. We suggest that the APS may be one cause of thrombosis in avascular necrosis.