Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome with Anticardiolipin Antibodies Revealing Paraneoplastic Systemic Scleroderma

Lupus anticoagulant was present in this case of paraneoplastic scleroderma revealed by hemolytic-uremic syndrome, suggesting that the autoantibody played a significant role in the sequence of events leading to anuria. Reviewing the literature we found several observations of paraneoplastic scleroderma, and in other series cases of scleroderma-linked (and in rare instances cancer-linked) antiphospholipid autoantibodies. Search for antiphospholipid antibodies should be considered in patients with systemic scleroderma as well as in patients with metastatic cancer. Presence of such procoagulant autoantibodies might predict future complications and should influence treatment strategy.