Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare form of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). In CAPS multiple blood clots form throughout the body over a short period of time (usually within a week). CAPS is a medical emergency, as clots can cause life-threatening multi-organ failure. The cause of CAPS is unknown. A widely accepted explanation is that it is caused by a combination of gene mutations (making one more susceptible to CAPS) and an environmental trigger, such as an infection, trauma, or surgery.