Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare but very serious complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). It occurs in less than 1% of people with APS.
In people who develop CAPS, blood clots suddenly form throughout the body, resulting in multiple organ failure.
It is not clear what causes this but one case in five occurs after an infection, trauma or surgery.
The initial symptoms can be wide-ranging, depending on which organs are involved. Initial symptoms may include:
- fatigue
- swollen ankles, feet or hands
- increasing breathlessness
- abdominal pain
- blood in your urine (haematuria)
- mental confusion
- seizures (fits)
- coma (a state of unconsciousness where a person is unresponsive and cannot be woken up)
The symptoms usually develop suddenly and rapidly get worse.
Immediate admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) is required so that the body’s functions can be supported while the blood clots are treated with injections of high-dose anticoagulants.
Dial 999 and ask for an ambulance immediately if you or someone you know has APS which suddenly gets worse.
Even with the best available treatment, the outlook for catastrophic APS is poor, with an estimated 50% of people dying as a result of the condition.
