Antiphospholipid syndrome with myocardial infarction and aortic valve involvement

The primary antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder which is characterized by: arterial and/or venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, recurrent fetal lo ss and high plasma revels of antiphospholipid antibodies. Valvular involvem ent is associated with arterial thrombosis and the most frequent manifestat ion is regurgitation. We report the case of a young male with primary antip hospholipid syndrome and previous cerebrovascular thrombosis hospitalized f or subacute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed right and left anterior descendent coronary artery stenosis, the latter being success fully recanalized by direct percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated aortic valve involvement with predominant regurgitation and transesophageal echocardiography detected val ve excrescences on the aortic leaflets. Laboratory study demonstrated throm bocytopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and high titer s of anticardiolipin antibodies. Oral anticoagulation therapy was started. Thrombotic events have not recurred after three months of follow-up.