Summary:
The main clinical criterion of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is venous or
arterial thrombosis. Its less-known clinical manifestation is the affection of the
heart and heart valves. The authors have described simultaneous involvement of
the brain and heart within primary APS that was manifested clinically with
cerebral infarction developed due to cardiac embolization in aseptic (noninfectious)
endocarditis of the mitral valve. Abnormalities of cardiac valves are
found in as much as one-third of patients with primary APS. Valvulopathy is
presented by thickening, adhesions, valve rigidity and non-bacterial vegetations.
However, these lesions may be evaluated by differential diagnostics as infectious
endocarditis and, thus, treated incorrectly. In aseptic endocarditis, developed at
APS, anticoagulant therapy is highly effective in the secondary prevention of
systemic, especially cerebral, embolization. The aim of this report is to show the
possibility of less frequent cause of cerebral ischemia such as non-bacterial
endocarditis in APS. The examination of coagulation cascade, or laboratory
rheumatological screening and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) have
been considered an essential component of an investigating standard in patients by
the age of 60 years or at cryptogenic ictus.
Key words:
antiphospholipid syndrome, vascular thrombosis, non-infectious
endocarditis, transesophageal echocardiography
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