Effective treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome with plasmapheresis and rituximab.

Abstract

With the exception of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the management of patients with APS has been largely supportive aiming at avoiding a recurrent thrombotic event; it is noteworthy that data concerning therapy targeting the triggering factor (the antiphopsholipid antibodies) are scarce. We report a case of APS manifested as recurrent fetal losses, ischemic stroke and renal dysfunction with concomitant nephrotic syndrome successfully treated with the combination of plasmapheresis and anti-CD20 antibody.