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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Rep 2015; 04(01): 040-043
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1549841
Case Report: Cardiac
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Right Atrial Thrombosis in Antiphospholipid Syndrome with Secondary Immune Thrombocytopenia

Minna Voigtlaender
1   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Onkologisches Zentrum, Hamburg, Germany
,
Lenard Conradi
2   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik für Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitäres Herzzentrum, Hamburg, Germany
,
Andrea Hinsch
3   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Institut für Pathologie, Hamburg, Germany
,
Florian Langer
1   Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Onkologisches Zentrum, Hamburg, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

22 December 2014

18 March 2015

Publication Date:
20 April 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Background Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired thrombophilia that can be associated with decreased platelet counts.

Case A 67-year-old woman presented with thrombocytopenia and a symptomatic right atrial mass suspicious of cardiac myxoma. Prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was caused by a strong lupus anticoagulant, and bone marrow cytology was consistent with accelerated platelet clearance. The patient underwent uneventful resection of the atrial tumor, which turned out to be a calcified fibrin-rich thrombus. Definitive APS was diagnosed and long-term anticoagulation recommended.

Conclusion When evaluating patients with right atrial masses, findings of thrombocytopenia and/or aPTT prolongation should raise the suspicion of APS-associated thrombosis.

Keywords

antiphospholipid syndrome - immune thrombocytopenia - lupus anticoagulant - intracardiac thrombosis
 

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