Posted by Medlengough (12.90.100.179) on December 19, 2001 at 16:15:36:
In Reply to: Clusters and Immune disorders-anybody with both-looking for connection posted by Alane on December 19, 2001 at 12:47:28:
I was diagnosed with Lupus Anti Coagulant antibody, also known as anti phospholipid antibody and anti cardiolipin antibody. This was about 10 years after my clusters began. The antibody caused excessive blood clotting due to the platelets being attacked. Even though blood clotting is one of the symptoms, apparently due to the platelets release of serotonin,etc. bleeding to the outside of the blood vessel occurs. Thus spider veins and petichiae are also symptoms. I had to take steroids during my pregnancy as the antibody attacks the placenta and causes spontaneous miscarriages. Even with the steroids, at 7 months my daughter had stopped growing in uterus. An emergency caesarian was done and she is fine. But I remember the doc showing everyone the placenta. It was a mess.
There are three generations of cluster headache sufferers in my family. Although the others were never diagnosed with the antibody, my grandfather fatally bled from his stomach. My mother suffered bleeding as a subarachnoid hemmorhage.
Hope this info is helpful.