Catastrophic Anti-phospholipid Syndrome Presenting with Symmetrical Peripheral Gangrene
Ujala Zubair *
Sindh Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan
Ahmad Faraz
Karachi Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
Zarafshan Zubair
Dow Medical College, Pakistan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired auto-immune thrombophilia and is very rare in children presenting with skin manifestations.
Case Report: A case of 12 years old female who presented to the Emergency with discoloration of arms and legs and later developed gangrene which then auto-amputated. Anti-cardiolipin antibodies were found to be positive and skin biopsy findings were consistent with APS. She was diagnosed with catastrophic anti-phospholipid syndrome. Anti- ds antibodies were found to be negative.
Conclusion: Criteria for diagnosing APS in children should be developed as the adult APS diagnostic criteria doesn’t seem to apply on peadiatric patients. Prior studies too apply emphasis on this fact.
Keywords: Anti-phospholipid syndrome, cardiolipin antibodies, gangrene, auto-amputation