Antiphospholipid syndrome treated with prednisolone, cyclophosphamide and double-filtration plasmapheresis

Intern Med. 2002 Sep;41(9):725-9. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.41.725.

Abstract

A case of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is reported. A 48-year-old man visited our hospital because of proteinuria. He had suffered from thrombosis and had high titers of antibodies to beta2-glycoprotein I (abeta2GPI) and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLIgG) and thrombocytopenia. We started anticoagulation therapy using warfarin combined with prednisolone. Although platelet count was improved, the titers of anti-beta2GPI and aCLIgG still remained high. Therefore, double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) was carried out to remove the antibodies. After the treatment with DFPP, cyclophosphamide was administered. These therapies resulted in lower titers of abeta2GPI and aCLIgG and no more thrombosis occurred. A combination therapy using warfarin, prednisolone, cyclophosphamide and DFPP might be effective for the treatment of patients with APS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / blood
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / therapy*
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Filtration
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Glycoproteins / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmapheresis / methods*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Thrombocytopenia / drug therapy
  • Thrombocytopenia / etiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Warfarin / therapeutic use
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
  • Anticoagulants
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I
  • Warfarin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisolone