Valvular dysfunction in antiphospholipid syndrome: Prevalence, clinical features, and treatment

Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Regurgitation in a Patient With Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

“…4 Mitral regurgitation is the most common type of valvular abnormality, observed in 22% of patients with PAPS, followed by AR in 10%. 5 The pathogenesis of these valvular abnormalities in PAPS is not entirely clear. One possible initial event could be the binding of anticardiolipin antibodies to valvular endothelial cells.…”

“…5 Nesher et al reported that the valve thickening in PAPS was generally diffuse, and when localized thickening was noted, it involved the leaflets' midportion or base. 5 In the present case, it was notable that the localized thickening and shrinkage were observed at the midportion and base of each cusp, with vegetation on the left ventricular side only, whereas the surface of the aortic valve on the side of the ascending aorta was smooth. Furthermore, none of the free edges of each valve were involved.…”

Infliximab‐related lupus and associated valvulitis: A case report and review of the literature

“…In the early 1990s, there were many reports of a link between antiphospholipid antibodies and valvular disease, but other studies failed to show a clear association (9). There were some case reports highlighting the efficacy of corticosteroids in remedying mitral valve dysfunction in patients who were antiphospholipid positive (11). Steroids were documented to not only remedy clinical symptoms attributable to heart failure from valvular dysfunction but also to rapidly decrease mitral valve leaflet thickness over time (11).…”

Cardiovascular Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

“…High-dose corticosteroids for 4 to 6 weeks are used to shrunken the vegetations, but this approach is controversial. ( Nesher et al, 1997) Some studies have suggested that corticosteroid treatment may contribute to ultimate valve thickening, but this is unproven. In the presence of significant regurgitation, even in the absence of nodules, there is a high risk of bacterial endocarditis particularly in the setting of jet lesions and warrant antibiotic prophylaxis.…”