Cardiac Surgery in a Patient With Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME (APS) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) are separate disease processes that are both characterized by a prothrombotic state and an increased risk of perioperative complications. APS is a rare, noninflammatory, autoimmune disease, resulting in arterial and/or venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, fetal loss, and the presence of antiphospholipid (APL) antibodies.1 The incidence of APS is approximately 2% in the general population.2 Irregular thickening of heart valves from immune-complex deposition leads to valvular disease in 35% to 82% of patients with APS, and 4% to 6% of these patients require surgical intervention.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - July 12, 2021 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Eric R. Simon, Milap Rakholia, Marie LaPenta McHenry, Pankaj Kumar Mishra, Rajendra Singh, Kalyana Javangula, Mohammed M. Minhaj, Mark A. Chaney Tags: Case Conference Source Type: research