Bone Marrow Necrosis and Refractory HELLP Syndrome in a Patient with Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

JAYASHREE SINHA, IFTIKHAR CHOWDHRY, SARAH SEDAN, and PETER BARLAND

ABSTRACT.

We describe a 22-year-old woman who developed extensive and fatal bone marrow necrosis along with involvement of liver, lung, and central nervous system during pregnancy in the background of very high titers of antiphospholipid and anti-ß₂ glycoprotein antibodies. This case illustrates a rarely recognized, potentially fatal complication of aPL in the setting of pregnancy. (J Rheumatol 2002;29:195-7)

Key Indexing Terms:

BONE MARROW NECROSIS
ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODY SYNDROME
PREGNANCY