A Case of Antiphospholipid Syndrome Associated with Autoimmune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Nam,  Y S; Lee,  W S; Park,  C; Yoon,  T K; Cha,  K Y

Case Report

Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 1999;26(2):265-269.
Published online January 1, 2001.

A Case of Antiphospholipid Syndrome Associated with Autoimmune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Y S Nam, W S Lee, C Park, T K Yoon, K Y Cha

Abstract

Thrombocytopenic patients without detectable bound antiplatelet antibody should be diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) if no other cause of their decreased platelet count could be found. More recently the term 'autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP)' has supplanted ITP since the disease is related to the production of autoantibodies against one's own platelets. This entity should not be confused with isoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (also called alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura). In this cases maternal antiplatelet antibodies directed against the PLA 1 antigen on the fetal platelets causes severe fetal and neonatal thrombocytopenia in a situation analogous to Rheusus disease. Antibodies to the negatively charged phospholipids, lupus anticoagulant, and anticardiolipin have been linked to adverse pregnancy events. Pregnant women possessing these antibodies have an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, intrauterine fetal growth retardation, preform birth, and arterial and venous thrombosis. Antiphospholipid antibodies decrease or may even disappear between pregnancies only to recur with increased activity in a subsequent pregnancy and lead to loss. We have experienced a case of antiphospholipid syndrome associated with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in patient with recurrent spontaneous abortion. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.