Primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome presenting with encephalopathy, psychosis and seizures

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by recurrent thrombotic events, miscarriages and thrombocytopenia with persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies.( 1,2 ) APS may be isolated (primary APS) or associated to a connective tissue disease, most often systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).( 1,2 ) APS usually affects young patients before the fifth decade( 3 ) with stroke being the commonest neurological manifestation.( 4 ) Various other neurological manifestations are being recognized in patients with APS including migraine, epilepsy, multi-infarct dementia and chorea.( 2 ) The pathological process underlying the neurological manifestations remains obscure.( 1,2 ) Herein we report a case of primary APS presenting with a group of unusual neurological manifestations in a 68-year-old woman.