RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in antiphospholipid syndrome
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 829
OP 833
DO 10.15537/smj.2018.8.22437
VO 39
IS 8
A1 Aldaajani, Hana
A1 Albahrani, Salma
A1 Saleh, Khalid
A1 Alghanim, Khawla
YR 2018
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/39/8/829.abstract
AB A 43-year-old man with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and previous thromboembolic events treated with warfarin for 6 months, presented with right flank pain accompanied with vomiting, dizziness, and altered mental status 2 weeks after discontinuation of warfarin. His clinical examination findings were unremarkable. Routine blood work showed lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypoosmolar hyponatremia. Random serum cortisol level was low (14 nmol/L). Computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed bilateral bulky heterogeneous suprarenal gland surrounded by fat stranding representing adrenal hemorrhage. He was treated for acute adrenal crisis and subsequently started on hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone, with significant clinical improvement. His diagnosis was secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Bilateral adrenal thrombosis lead to hemorrhage in the adrenals as a paradoxical effect after warfarin cessation and primarily caused by APS. Bilateral adrenal bleeding should lead to the suspicion of thrombophilic disorders, such as APS, with cautious anticoagulation as the treatment of choice