Antiphospholipid syndrome, cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass

of APLS are cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, seizures, chorea, migraine, pseudotumor cerebri, visual disturbances and dementia. Cutaneous features include livedo reticularis, ulcers, infarcts and superficial thrombophlebitis. These patients may develop renal arterial or venous thrombosis, acute or chronic renal failure, hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia.[15-17] Catastrophic APLS is a distinct entity that results in simultaneous multiple small vessel thromboses. Factors precipitating this ‘thrombotic storm’ include surgical trauma, infection, any change in anticoagulation therapy, or oral contraceptives. It is associated with nearly 50% mortality.[18-20]