Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome after severe maxillofacial trauma treated effectively with combined therapy in the intensive care unit. An 'imaging' case.

摘要

The term catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is used to define an accelerated form of antiphospholipid syndrome resulting in multiorgan failure caused by small vessel thrombi in patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies. A total of three organ systems are required to be affected by the vasoocclusive process, which is often accompanied by high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). Infections, autoimmune diseases, drugs (oral contraceptives, thiazides, captopril), and withdrawal of anticoagulation therapy may lead to recurrent thrombosis and development of the syndrome.Past studies have suggested that surgical procedures, such as biopsy retrograde cholangiopancreatography, arterial manipulation, pregnancy, and postfetal demise, could precipitate CAPS. Furthermore, only one study has shown that trauma could also be a precipitating factor of CAPS.