Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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Primary Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome: Neuroradiologic Findings in 11 Patients

  • Jung Hoon Kim (Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Choong-Gon Choi (Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Soo-Jung Choi (Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Ho Kyu Lee (Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Dae Chul Suh (Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
  • Received : 1999.10.13
  • Accepted : 2000.02.09
  • Published : 2000.03.31
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Abstract

Objective: To describe the neuroradiologic findings of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (PAPS). Materials and Methods: During a recent two-year period, abnormally elevated antiphospholipid antibodies were detected in a total of 751 patients. In any cases in which risk factors for stroke were detected - hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and the presence of SLE or other connective tissue diseases - PAPS was not diagnosed. Neuroradiologic studies were performed in 11 of 32 patients with PAPS. We retrospectively reviewed brain CT (n = 7), MR (n = 8), and cerebral angiography (n = 8) in 11 patients with special attention to the presence of brain parenchymal lesions and cerebral arterial or venous abnormalities. Results: CT or MR findings of PAPS included nonspecific multiple hyper-intensity foci in deep white matter on T2-weighted images (5/11), a large infarct in the territory of the middle cerebral artery (4/11), diffuse cortical atrophy (2/11), focal hemorrhage (2/11), and dural sinus thrombosis (1/11). Angiographic findings were normal (5/8) or reflected either occlusion of a large cerebral artery (2/8) or dural sinus thrombosis (1/8). Conclusion: Neuroradiologic findings of PAPS are nonspecific but in young or middle- aged adults who show the above mentioned CT or MR findings, and in whom risk factors for stroke are not present, the condition should be suspected.

Keywords

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