Splenic Infarction as the Initial Manifestation of Antiphospholipid Syndrome in a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patient

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. In patients with SLE, the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies is considerably higher, and is largely responsible for thrombosis. Splenic infarction is a rare complication of arterial thrombosis in patients with SLE. It is important to consider splenic infarction in a patient with SLE complaining of left upper quadrant (LUQ) pain because of the possibility of severe infarction-related complications, such as subcapsular hemorrhage and splenic rupture. We report a case of solitary splenic infarction in a patient with SLE. The only symptom was LUQ pain of 3-day duration. Lupus anticoagulant activity was positive and abdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) was consistent with splenic infarction. She did not show any other evidence of thrombotic events. The patient was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome that presented as a splenic infarction in a SLE patient. (Korean J Med 2014;86:651-654)