Connective tissue disease associated with sclerodermoid features, early abortion, and circulating anticoagulant

William E. Freeman, Jack L. Lesher, J. Graham Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

An 18-year-old white woman admitted for an incomplete septic abortion was found to have thrombocytopenia, anemia, and increased activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT). Additionally, results of nontreponemal serologic tests for syphilis were positive, and the fluorescent antinuclear antibody was weakly positive. A mixture of the patienťs plasma with normal control plasma showed that the elevation in activated PTT was the result of a circulating anticoagulant, not an inherent clotting defect. Sclerodermoid features were present and consisted of bound-down, hairless skin and scattered subcutaneous indurated plaques. A faint pattern consistent with livedo reticularis was recognized on all extremities. Biopsy specimens of sclerodermoid lesions showed increased and thickened dermal collagen consistent with morphea. We believe that this patienťs condition represents an unusual connective tissue disease syndrome consisting of abortion, livedo reticularis, thrombocytopenia, circulating “anticoagulant,” negative or slightly positive antinuclear antibodies, and false positive results on nontreponemal serologic tests for syphilis. Sclerodermoid lesions were also a unique feature in our patient.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)932-937
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume19
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Connective tissue disease associated with sclerodermoid features, early abortion, and circulating anticoagulant'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this