Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a disorder caused by circulatin
g antibodies reacting with biological membranes and characterized by recurr
ent thrombosis, chronic thrombocytopenia and miscarriages. It has been repo
rted to occur either as a primary syndrome or secondary to systemic autoimm
une disorders. We describe a case of primary APS in a young patient, in who
m the clinical course was particularly severe and complicated by a respirat
ory distress syndrome. The patient was resistant to a number of treatments,
and eventually responded to intravenous high dose corticosteroids. (C) 200
0, Ferrata Storti Foundation.