Antiphospholipid Syndrome Presenting with Superior Vena Cava Thrombosis

Blood flow obstruction in the superior vena cava (SVC) results in symptoms and signs of SVC syndrome. SVC obstruction is caused either by invasion or external compression of the SVC by contiguous pathologic processes involving the right lung, lymph nodes, and other mediastinal structures, or by thrombosis within the SVC. In the past, syphilitic aortic aneurysms and infections were frequent causes, but nowadays, malignancy represents the most common etiology (1-3). SVC thrombosis accounts for a significant proportion of the remaining non-malignant causes of SVC obstruction (2). Many of these are related to the presence of indwelling central venous devices, including pacemaker/defibrillator leads or hemodialysis catheters (2). We report a case of thrombosis of the SVC leading to SVC syndrome as a manifestation of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).