Antiphospholipid syndrome accompanied by pulmonary infarcts diagnosed via thoracic lung biopsy
Takashi Ishiguroa Noboru Takayanagia Tomohiko Ikeyab Naho Kagiyamaa Yoshihiko Shimizuc Yutaka Sugitaa Hidesaku Asakurad
aDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center
bDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Saitama Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center
cDepartment of Pathology, Saitama Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center
dDepartment of Internal Medicine (III), Kanazawa University School of Medicine
A 29-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of nodules in his right upper lung field. Although transbronchial lung biopsy was not diagnostic, we subsequently diagnosed pulmonary infarcts on the basis of thoracoscopic lung biopsy results. Enhanced computed tomography performed after histologic diagnosis showed no pulmonary artery-filling defects. During evaluation of underlying diseases that can cause pulmonary infarcts, positive test results for lupus anticoagulant were obtained twice, and we diagnosed antiphospholipid syndrome. Pulmonary infarcts should be considered as a differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule, and antiphospholipid antibody should be investigated in such cases.
Pulmonary infarct Acute pulmonary thromboembolism Lupus anticoagulant Antiphospholipid syndrome Thoracoscopic lung biopsy
Received 16 Jul 2015 / Accepted 19 Sep 2015
AJRS, 5(1): 41-45, 2016