Unveiling Complexity: A Case Report of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome With Coronary Occlusion and a Concomitant Patent Foramen Ovale Shunt

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 11; p. e48456
• Main Authors: Sharma, Nava R, Gautam, Sudarshan, Kc, Prabal, Kansakar, Sajog, Rivera Boadla, Marlon E, Pokhrel, Madalasa, Basnet, Arjun, Lamichhane, Saral
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus Inc 07.11.2023
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndromes; Anemia; Anticoagulants; Autoimmune diseases; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiology; Case reports; Catheters; Coronary vessels; Electrocardiography; Females; Hematology; Hypertension; Hypothermia; Hypoxia; Lupus; Medical imaging; Nitric oxide; Patients; Pulmonary arteries; Rheumatology; Thrombosis; Tomography; Ultrasonic imaging; Veins & arteries; acs; apla; apla syndrome; systemic lupus erythema; patent foramen oval
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48456

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are rare autoimmune disorders that afflict a small percentage of the global female population. The complexity of these conditions is further exacerbated by their propensity to give rise to recurrent thrombosis and obstetric morbidity, thereby posing intricate challenges for clinicians and patients alike. One of the most concerning aspects of these diseases is the heightened risk they confer for accelerated atherosclerosis, which can ultimately culminate in the development of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This case report describes a 27-year-old female with APLS, SLE, and lupus nephritis. She suffered from a catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) episode and simultaneously developed ACS. She also had a patent foramen ovale (PFO) shunt.