A Case of Adrenal Insufficiency Associated with Antiphopholipid Syndrome with SLE / 대한내분비학회지

ABSTRACT

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is autoimmune disease that often develops antiphopholipid syndrome (APS). Lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies are the hallmarks of APS. The hypercoagulable state in APS may lead to adrenal vein thrombosis, and subsquently lead to hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal gland. Adrenal hemorrhage is a very rare complication of APS. Although there have been some reports about adrenal hemorrhage associated with primary APS, adrenal hemorrhage associated secondary APS in SLE has not yet been reported. We describe the adrenal hemorrhage associated with secondary APS in SLE, and the patient which complained of general weakeness, nausea, vomiting and diffuse abdominal pain. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hemorrhage, of both renal glands, and clinical features and immunological studies were consistent with APS in SLE. The acute adrenal insufficiency was much improved after the patient was treated with glucocorticoids