PORTAL-HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATED WITH ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES IN A CASE OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

A 26-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a histor y of acute myocardial infarction developed portal hypertension accompa nied by abnormal liver function and esophageal varices. As his clinica l course suggested the possibility of antiphospholipid syndrome, a tit er of anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) was serially measured using an en zyme immunoassay with beta(2)-glycoprotein I as a cofactor. The titer of aCL increased with the development of portal hypertension, and prom ptly decreased with the improvement of liver function just after corti costeroid therapy. The long-term course in this case suggests that aCL may cause portal hypertension associated with SLE.