RECURRENT THROMBOSIS IN A YOUNG WOMAN WITH A CIRCULATING ANTICOAGULANT DIRECTED AGAINST FACTORS XI AND XII

Abstract

Abstract A young woman with discoid lupus erythematosus and a potent circulating anticoagulant directed against factors XI and XII is described. The patient had no bleeding symptoms, but had had repeated episodes of venous thrombosis. The fibrinolytic activity of the vein walls was found to be decreased. It was apparent that a circulating anticoagulant against factors XI and XII will not prevent thrombus formation in a patient with low fibrinolytic activity of the vessel walls, which is known to predispose to thrombosis.