A Case of Secondary Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome with Thyroid Cancer

ABSTRACT

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is defined as the presence of lupus anticoagulant antibody or anticardiolipin antibody with vascular thrombosis or pregnancy complications. APS can be associated with autoimmune disease or infectious disease. APS has also been reported in conjunction with variety of solid and hematologic malignancies. There were some reports on APS which were accompanied by hematologic malignancy, but there was no report with solid malignancy in Korea. We experienced one case of secondary APS, which was diagnosed during pre-operative evaluation of thyroid cancer. This patient had prolonged aPTT (activate partial thromboplastin time) and decreased coagulation factors which were regarded as hemophilia at first. Although the precise mechanism of the relationship between APS and cancer has not been proven thoroughly, APS can be accompanied by various malignancies. So proper screening and early detection of malignancies in APS patients are recommended.