Cyclophosphamide use in a young woman with antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent cerebrovascular accident

South Med J. 1989 Nov;82(11):1421-4. doi: 10.1097/00007611-198911000-00021.

Abstract

We have described a 25-year-old woman with recurrent cerebral thrombosis associated with very high levels of antibodies against phospholipids. Antinuclear antibodies and clinical features of a defined connective tissue disease were absent. Treatment with plasmapheresis, prednisone, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and warfarin was accompanied by disappearance from the serum of the lupus anticoagulant and the biologic false-positive test for syphilis; IgG anticardiolipin antibodies persisted, however, and the patient had a second cerebral thrombosis. Clinical improvement ultimately occurred after the dosage of cyclophosphamide was optimized and the level of IgG anticardiolipin antibody decreased to a level lower than any that has been previously associated with thrombotic complications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies / analysis*
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / analysis
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / immunology
  • Cardiolipins / immunology*
  • Cerebral Infarction / drug therapy
  • Cerebral Infarction / immunology*
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / drug therapy
  • Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / immunology*
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
  • Phospholipids / analysis
  • Recurrence

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Cardiolipins
  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
  • Phospholipids
  • Cyclophosphamide