Case report on a coronary artery bypass graft for a patient with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus
Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an immune disease in which antiphospholipid antibodies cause hypercoagulability and thromboembolic complications. We experienced APS cases associated with systemic lupus erythematosus with three-vessel lesions of the coronary artery. After a below knee amputation on a 60-year-old woman with APS, she complained of chest pain at rest. An electrocardiogram showed an ST depression and a coronary angiography showed complicated three-vessel disease, as a result she was referred to the cardiac surgery department. A coronary artery bypass with arterial grafts was performed along with postoperative anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy, and the short-term graft patency was good. Case reports of coronary artery bypass grafts for secondary APS are rare, so we report here on our case and our strategy to treat thromboembolic complications.
