Antiphospholipid syndrome: laboratory detection, mechanisms of action and treatment

J Intern Med. 2011 Aug;270(2):110-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02362.x. Epub 2011 Mar 11.

Abstract

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) identifies a condition at increased risk of vascular occlusion and/or pregnancy complications. Patients are defined as having APS if they have at least one clinical (vascular occlusion and/or pregnancy complications) and one laboratory criterion at the same time. The laboratory criteria that define APS are repeated positivity (confirmed 12 weeks apart) for lupus anticoagulants and/or antibodies targeted against cardiolipin or β(2) -glycoprotein I immobilized on solid surfaces. Over the years, APS has attracted the interest of many medical specialties. The aim of this review is to provide an update on (i) the laboratory criteria that determine the presence of APS, (ii) how the antibodies increase the risk of vascular occlusion and foetal loss and (iii) the treatment of the related clinical events.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / analysis
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / diagnosis
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I / immunology

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Biomarkers
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I