A Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with Antiphospholipid Antibodies Presented with Tendency for Severe Bleeding

ABSTRACT

We report a case of SLE with antiphospholipid antibodies presented initially with severe bleeding. A six-year-old boy was admitted due to severe nasal bleeding for 2 months. The boy showed typical malar rash. The laboratory tests indicated that his platelet count was 80,000/mm3 and the PT and the aPTT were markedly prolonged. A number of clotting factors were decreased, including factorsll<12%, Vll 42%, lX 38%, Xl 41%, and Xll 16%. Urinalysis showed hematuria and proteinuria, and 24-hour urine protein was 1.37g/day. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was false positive, Coombs test, lupus anticoagulants and anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG and IgM) were positive. His symptoms and laboratory tests fulfilled the criteria of SLE with antiphospholipid antibody. Renal pathology showed lupus nepritis (diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, class lV). After steroid therapy, his nasal bleeding stopped immediately, and laboratory findings became normalized. This case showed the tendency of paradoxic bleeding, instead of the expected thrombosis which can be found in this type of patient. We anticipate it is mainly due to pronounced prothrombin deficiency.