Journal List > J Rheum Dis > v.21(2) > 1064165

J Rheum Dis. 2014 Apr;21(2):74-76. Korean.
Published online April 30, 2014.  https://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2014.21.2.74
Copyright © 2014 by The Korean College of Rheumatology
A Case of Refractory Headache with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Improved by High-Intensity Warfarin Medication
Kyung-Hee Cho,1 Jun-Gyu Yang,2 Ji-Sun Kim,1 and Sung-Wook Lee1
1Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
2Department of Neurology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Corresponding to: Kyung-Hee Cho, Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705, Korea. Email: kh.cho.neuro@gmail.com
Received April 13, 2013; Revised June 12, 2013; Accepted June 17, 2013.

This is a Free Access article, which permits unrestricted non-commerical use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Abstract

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a coagulation disorder associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Headache is common in APS patients and often unresponsive to analgesics. We report a case of refractory headache in a patient with APS, who was improved by high-intensity warfarin treatment. The mechanisms of the headache in patients with APS were presumed to be hypercoagulability of microcirculation and thrombotic occlusion of the capillaries, which were associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. Therefore, high-intensity warfarin could be considered as one of the treatments for refractory headache in patients with APS.

Keywords: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; Headache; Warfarin

Figures


 Figure 1
Brain MRI of the patient. (A, B) FLAIR and T-weighted image show cerebral infarction in the left insular cortex. (C) MR angiography reveals no stenotic lesion in intracranial arteries.
Click for larger image

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