Aortoiliac Occlusion Associated with the Lupus Anticoagulant

Abstract

Aortoiliac occlusion due to atherosclerosis is known to occur in elderly people. Two unique cases are documented here in which aortoiliac occlusion was observed in young men. These patients had no identifiable risk factors for developing atherosclerotic throm bosis except for the lupus anticoagulant, an immunoglobulin associated with throm boembolic episodes. Although previously the lupus anticoagulant has been reported to cause thrombosis only in relatively small-sized arteries or veins, it may also be associated with aortoiliac atheromatous occlusion in young men.