ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Libman-Sacks endocarditis is a rare complication of antiphospholipid syndrome. Anti-vitamin K therapy is the standard treatment, although valvular replacement surgery may be required in some severe cases. In the latest EULAR recommendations, it is advised not to use direct oral anticoagulants in the management of antiphospholipid syndrome, especially of high-risk profile. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a mitral Libman-Sacks endocarditis complicated with multiple strokes occurring in the setting of an antiphospholipid syndrome with triple positive antibody profile in a 63-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis. She was previously treated with apixaban for two years. Tinzaparin followed by prolonged warfarine treatment and two months of hydroxychloroquine resulted in valvular improvement. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of Libman-Sacks endocarditis occurring during apixaban therapy in a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome. This severe case highlights the inefficiency of direct oral anticoagulants to prevent thrombotic events in the antiphospholipid syndrome.
Subject(s)
Antiphospholipid Syndrome , Endocarditis , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Antiphospholipid Syndrome/complications , Antiphospholipid Syndrome/diagnosis , Antiphospholipid Syndrome/drug therapy , Endocarditis/complications , Endocarditis/diagnosis , Endocarditis/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Pyrazoles/adverse effects , Pyridones/adverse effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Numerous patients with T2DM show resistance to aspirin treatment, which may explain the higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events observed compared with non-diabetes patients, and it has recently been shown that aspirin resistance is mainly related to accelerated platelet turnover with persistent high platelet reactivity (HPR) 24h after last aspirin intake. The mechanism behind HPR is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the precise rate and mechanisms associated with HPR in a population of T2DM patients treated with aspirin. METHODS: Included were 116 consecutive stable T2DM patients who had attended our hospital for their yearly check-up. HPR was assessed 24h after aspirin intake using light transmission aggregometry (LTA) with arachidonic acid (AA) and serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2) measurement. Its relationship with diabetes status, insulin resistance, inflammatory markers and coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, using calcium scores, were investigated. RESULTS: Using LTA, HPR was found in 27 (23%) patients. There was no significant difference in mean age, gender ratio or cardiovascular risk factors in patients with or without HPR. HPR was significantly related to duration of diabetes and higher fasting glucose levels (but not consistently with HbA1c), and strongly related to all markers of insulin resistance, especially waist circumference, HOMA-IR, QUICKI and leptin. There was no association between HPR and thrombopoietin or inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-10, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity, TNF-α, C-reactive protein), whereas HPR was associated with more severe CAD. Similar results were found with TXB2. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal that 'aspirin resistance' is frequently found in T2DM, and is strongly related to insulin resistance and severity of CAD, but weakly related to HbA1c and not at all to inflammatory parameters. This may help to identify those T2DM patients who might benefit from alternative antiplatelet treatments such as twice-daily aspirin and thienopyridines.
