Findings at necropsy in the heart of a patient with anticardiolipin syndrome

Abstract

A 40 year old man with a history of myocardial infarction and hypertension presented with transient cerebral ischaemic attacks, aortic regurgitation, a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and thrombocytopenia. The anticardiolipin syndrome was diagnosed and he was treated with prednisolone and warfarin. He died two years later after the development of acute heart failure. At necropsy his heart showed widespread arteriolar thrombosis without vasculitis, recanalised large vessel occlusion, and a 'post-inflammatory' valvulitis of the aortic valve.