CASE-REPORT - THORACIC AORTA THROMBUS WITH SYSTEMIC EMBOLIZATION - A RARE PARANEOPLASTIC ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by venous and/or arte rial thromboses in the presence of the lupus anticoagulant, anticardio lipin antibodies, or both, Antiphospholipid syndrome may occur as a pr imary disease or in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or othe r autoimmune, infectious, or neoplastic disorders, This is a case of A PS associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and complicated by a large descending thoracic aorta thrombus responsible for lower limb and visceral emboli. The intraaortic clot was discovered by transesoph ageal echography (TEE), The association of APS with chronic leukemias has only rarely been described and, as far as can be ascertained, the location of a thrombus in the descending thoracic aorta has never been reported for this syndrome, This case illustrates the crucial role of TEE in the assessment of patients with systemic embolizations.