Anticardiolipin antibodies associated with alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Anticardiolipin antibodies are associated with arterial and venous thrombosis, and repetitive miscarriages. The involvement of the heart has been described frequently and can evolve into cardiomyopathy. It has been known for some decades that chronic alcoholism can lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether anticardiolipin antibodies represent a worse prognosis for patients with ACM. The authors present a case of a chronic alcoholic patient (30 y of alcoholism) who died at 44 y of age, and who was considered positive for anticardiolipin antibodies. The patient developed deep vein thrombosis, and peripheral arterial and pulmonary embolism. The presence of another risk factor seems to represent a worse prognosis for patients with ACM. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.