Antiphospholipid Syndrome as a Cause of Recurrent Portal Vein Thrombosis in a Man with a Medical History of other Thrombosis

Abstract

Aim: to present a clinical case of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) manifested as recurrent portal vein thrombosis in a man with a medical history of other thromboses.Key points. APS is a syndrome that includes venous and/or arterial thrombosis, various forms of obstetric pathology, thrombocytopenia, as well as a variety of neurological, skin, cardiovascular and hematological disorders. The article presents a clinical case of a male patient with several episodes of vascular thrombosis, two of which (thrombophlebitis of the veins of the lower extremities and stroke) developed at the age of 39 years, and recurrent thrombosis of the portal vein since 2018. For several years, the patient had the diagnosis of cirrhosis based on the presence of signs of portal hypertension. However, the patient's liver function remained practically intact all the time. During the current examination, APS was suspected, and the result of a blood test for antibodies against phospholipids was positive.Conclusion. This clinical case of APS reflects the difficulties in diagnosing this disease. It should be remembered that cases of thrombosis at a young age may be due to APS.