Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Antiphospholipid antibodies can lead to thromboembolic complications as well as abortion and thrombocytopenia. Meta-analyses showed that anti-phospholipid antibodies occur more frequently after COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) illness. On the other hand, thromboembolic and pregnancy-specific complications are not uncommon in conjunction with a COVID-19 infection. In clinical routine, the possible (causal) link between these events is not widely known. With help of this case report, we would like to increase the awareness of the co-occurrence of antiphospholipid antibodies and pregnancy complications. We report about a female patient who, after having passed through a COVID-19 infection, sustained an abortion due to newly detected antiphospholipid antibodies. The following pregnancy proceeded without complications thanks to the use of an appropriate medication.