Antiphospholipid syndrome – little to no attention in the Ethiopian clinical setting

Abstract

Epidemiologically prevailing antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is common among the younger population. APS is characterized by recurrent arterial and/or venous thrombosis and miscarriage. Although common among the youth; it has gained little or no consideration in its diagnosis in the Ethiopian clinical setup. We identified a woman with a movement disorder called chorea and recurrent pregnancy loss (abortions). She stayed eight years to be diagnosed with APS. As a devastating disease commonly seen in young patients with stroke, deep vein thrombosis and abortion, physician vigilance to detect APS is invaluable. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2018;32(2):123-125]
Key Words: Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Chorea, Anticardiolipin antibody, Lupus Anticoagulant.