Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011; 59(3): 182-183
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250501
Case Reports/Cardiac

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Inferior Vena Cava Obstruction by a Cardiac Mass: Unusual Presentation of Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

E. Permanyer1 , J. M. Alegret2 , 3 , C. Muñoz-Guijosa1 , J. M. Padró1
  • 1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
  • 2Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan de Reus, IISPV, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Reus, Spain
  • 3DIMATGE Reus, Corporació CRC, Reus, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

received August 16, 2010

Publication Date:
08 April 2011 (online)

Abstract

We present a previously healthy 43-year-old woman with a cardiac mass that caused almost total occlusion of the inferior vena cava at its junction with the right atrium. The resected mass proved to be a thrombus. Preoperative imaging tests could not distinguish it from other intracardiac tumors such as myxoma. A postoperative immunological study revealed a primary antiphospholipid syndrome. This case presents an unusual diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome and a rare location of a cardiac thrombus.

References

  • 1 George D, Erkan D. Antiphospholipid syndrome.  Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2009;  52 (2) 115-125
  • 2 Cervera R, Piette J C, Font J et al. Euro-Phospholipid Project Group. Antiphospholipid syndrome: clinical and immunologic manifestations and patterns of disease expression in a cohort of 1000 patients.  Arthritis Rheum. 2002;  46 1019-1027
  • 3 Roubey R A. New approaches to prevention of thrombosis in the antiphospholipid syndrome: hopes, trials, and tribulations.  Arthritis Rheum. 2003;  48 (11) 3004-3008
  • 4 Basso C, Bottio T, Rubino M et al. Antiphospholipid syndrome and right atrial mass.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005;  130 (5) 1462-1463

Eduard Permanyer, MD

Department of Cardiac Surgery
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Carrer Mas Casanovas 90

Barcelona 08041

Spain

Phone: +34 9 35 56 59 54

Fax: +34 9 35 56 56 03

Email: eduardpermanyer@gmail.com