Korean J Med.  2015 Nov;89(5):598-603. 10.3904/kjm.2015.89.5.598.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome Presenting as Recurrent Pancreatitis and Renal Thrombotic Microangiopathy

• Lee HK
• Jeong SO
• Kim Y
• Jin SY
• Kim HS
• Cho YD

• KMID: 2268966
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.89.5.598

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by vascular thrombosis or recurrent fetal loss in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. APS has various manifestations because it can involve any vessel in most organs and tissues. There are a few reports of acute pancreatitis or renal thrombotic microangiopathy accompanying APS, but none on concurrent acute pancreatitis and renal thrombotic microangiopathy in Korea. The clinical consequences can be devastating, so a high index of suspicion is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment. We report an unusual case of APS-associated recurrent pancreatitis and renal thrombotic microangiopathy. A 33-year-old woman was admitted for severe epigastric pain attributed to acute pancreatitis. She subsequently developed an acute kidney injury and the histology revealed thrombotic microangiopathy. Four weeks later, she was readmitted with recurrent pancreatitis. After treatment with anticoagulation and low-dose steroid, her abdominal pain subsided and the amylase and lipase levels normalized.

Keyword

Antiphospholipid syndrome; Pancreatitis; Thrombotic microangiopathy

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Acute Kidney Injury
Adult
Amylases
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Antiphospholipid Syndrome*
Early Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Korea
Lipase
Pancreatitis*
Thrombosis
Thrombotic Microangiopathies*
Amylases
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Lipase