Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Hematology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Lim

Abstract The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is defined by the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with recurrent venous or arterial thromboembolism or pregnancy morbidity. Anti-thrombotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment given the high risk of recurrent thromboembolism that characterizes this condition. Despite the prothrombotic nature of APS, thrombocytopenia is present in a proportion of patients. which can complicate management and limit the use of antithrombotic therapy. The mechanism of APS-associated thrombocytopenia is multifactorial and its relation to thrombotic risk poorly characterized. However, the presence of thrombocytopenia does not appear to reduce thrombotic risk in patients with APS, who can develop thromboembolic complications necessitating antithrombotic treatment. In these cases, treatment of the thrombocytopenia may be necessary to facilitate administration of antithrombotic agents. Clinical trials have demonstrated that patients with antiphospholipid antibodies and venous thromboembolism should be treated with vitamin K antagonists (warfarin); that ischemic stroke may be treated with aspirin or warfarin; and that women with recurrent pregnancy loss should receive prophylactic-dose heparin and aspirin. However, application of these trial results to patients with APS-associated thrombocytopenia can be challenging since there are limited data on the optimal use of antithrombotic agents in this setting. Issues such as determining the platelet threshold at which antithrombotic agents can be safely used and managing patients with both bleeding and thromboembolic complications remain unresolved. Ultimately the risks and benefits of antithrombotic therapy, balanced against the severity of the thrombocytopenia and its potential bleeding risks, need to be assessed using an individualized patient approach.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Kunal Mahajan ◽  
Virender Katyal ◽  
Suvrat Arya ◽  
Meha Shrama

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is defined by the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with recurrent venous or arterial thromboembolism or pregnancy morbidity. Antithrombotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment given the high risk of recurrent thromboembolism that characterizes this condition. Despite the prothrombotic nature of APS, thrombocytopenia is present in a proportion of patients, which can complicate management and limit the use of antithrombotic therapy. The mechanism of APS-associated thrombocytopenia is multifactorial and its relation to thrombotic risk is poorly characterized. The presence of thrombocytopenia does not appear to reduce thrombotic risk in patients with APS, who can develop thromboembolic complications necessitating antithrombotic treatment. In these cases, treatment of the thrombocytopenia may be necessary to facilitate administration of antithrombotic agents. We present such a pregnant lady with history of recurrent pregnancy losses who presented with severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding manifestations, who was subsequently diagnosed to have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. She was initially managed with steroids and when her platelet counts improved, antithrombotic therapy was started. She delivered an uneventful and successful pregnancy outcome without any complications during follow-up.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Lúcia Euzébio Ribeiro ◽  
Helena Lúcia Alves Pereira ◽  
Antonio Luiz Boechat ◽  
Neusa Pereira Silva ◽  
Emilia Ionue Sato ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are described in individuals with leprosy without the clinical features of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), a condition involving thromboembolic phenomena. We have described the persistence of these antibodies for over 5 years in patients with leprosy after specific treatment. Objectives To determine whether epidemiological, clinical and immunological factors played a role in the long-term persistence of aPL antibodies in leprosy patients after multidrug therapy (MDT) had finished. Methods The study sample consisted of 38 patients with a diagnosis of leprosy being followed up at the Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Department at the Alfredo da Matta Foundation (FUAM) in Manaus, AM. ELISA was used to detect anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) antibodies. Patients were reassessed on average of 5 years after specific treatment for the disease (MDT) had been completed. Results Persistence of aPL antibodies among the 38 leprosy patients was 84% (32/38), and all had the IgM isotype. Mean age was 48.1 ± 15.9 years, and 23 (72.0%) were male. The lepromatous form (LL) of leprosy was the most common (n = 16, 50%). Reactional episodes were observed in three patients (9.4%). Eighteen (47.37%) were still taking medication (prednisone and/or thalidomide). Mean IgM levels were 64 U/mL for aCL and 62 U/mL for anti-β2GPI. In the multivariate binary logistic regression the following variables showed a significant association: age (p = 0.045, OR = 0.91 and CI 95% 0.82–0.98), LL clinical presention (p = 0.034; OR = 0.02 and CI 95% = 0.0–0.76) and bacterial index (p = 0.044; OR = 2.74 and CI 95% = 1.03–7.33). We did not find association between prednisone or thalidomide doses and positivity for aPL (p = 0.504 and p = 0.670, respectively). No differences in the variables vascular thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity, diabetes, smoking and alcoholism were found between aPL-positive and aPL-negative patients. Conclusion Persistence of positivity for aPL antibodies was influenced by age, clinical presentation and bacterial index. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the reason for this persistence, the role played by aPL antibodies in the disease and the B cell lineages responsible for generation of these antibodies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (02) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Md. Motahar Hossain ◽  
Md. Akhter Hossain ◽  
Yasmin Rahman ◽  
Md. Kamrul Hasan

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by venous thromboembolism, arterial thrombosis, and obstetric morbidities in the setting of persistently positive levels of antiphospholipid antibodies. It may be primary or secondary. The latest classification criteria (Sydney 2006) recognize just three tests to define this syndrome- lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies and anti-?2-glycoprotein-1 antibodies. Treatment of thrombotic events involves lifelong anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonist warfarin. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) with only pregnancy morbidity is treated with thromboprophylaxis with heparin during pregnancy and postpartum for 6 weeks. In this review we discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the APS.


2011 ◽  
Vol 135 (9) ◽  
pp. 1092-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhil A Sangle ◽  
Kristi J Smock

Antiphospholipid antibodies are directed against phospholipid-protein complexes and include lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, and anti–beta-2 glycoprotein I antibodies. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is a common cause of acquired thrombophilia and is characterized by venous or arterial thromboembolism or pregnancy morbidity and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Antibodies should be demonstrable on at least 2 occasions separated by 12 weeks. Heterogeneity of the autoantibodies and absence of gold standard assays makes interpretation of laboratory results a challenge for both laboratorians and clinicians. This review discusses the key laboratory and clinical aspects of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Particular focus is given to lupus anticoagulant detection, in view of recently updated laboratory guidelines.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 994-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Remião Ugolini Lopes ◽  
Adriana Danowski ◽  
Andreas Funke ◽  
Jozelia Rêgo ◽  
Roger Levy ◽  
...  

Summary Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) associated with thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity. Most APS events are directly related to thrombotic events, which may affect small, medium or large vessels. Other clinical features like thrombocytopenia, nephropathy, cardiac valve disease, cognitive dysfunction and skin ulcers (called non-criteria manifestations) add significant morbidity to this syndrome and represent clinical situations that are challenging. APS was initially described in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but it can occur in patients without any other autoimmune disease. Despite the autoimmune nature of this syndrome, APS treatment is still based on anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy.


1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (02) ◽  
pp. 282-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josep Ordi-Ros ◽  
Francesc Monegal-Ferran ◽  
Nuria Martinez ◽  
Fina Cortes-Hernandez ◽  
Miquel Vilardell-Tarres ◽  
...  

SummaryObjective: To evaluate the usefulness of IgA antiphospholipid antibodies as markers of thrombosis and/or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study design in a tertiary, university-based, autoimmune reference hospital. Seven-hundred ninety-five patients classified into five different groups – autoimmune diseases (255), deep vein thrombosis (153), transitory ischemic attacks (108), obstetric complications (196), infectious diseases (83) and controls (81) – were tested for IgA, IgG and IgM aPL, and lupus anticoagulant. Plasma and serum samples were drawn for detection of aPL using an internationally standardized ELISA method and LA was carried out using coagulometric assays. Results: True IgA aPL were found only in two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; these patients were also positive to IgG aPL. Conclusion: The incidence of true positivity to IgA anticardiolipin antibodies is extremely low. Their determination was not helpful in diagnosing the antiphospholipid syndrome or in explaining thrombotic events or aPL related manifestations – fetal loss – in the groups studied.


Author(s):  
Alan J. Hakim ◽  
Gavin P.R. Clunie ◽  
Inam Haq

Introduction 344 Epidemiology and pathology 345 Clinical features of antiphospholipid syndrome 346 Treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome 348 Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome 350 The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was first described in the 1980s and comprises arterial and venous thrombosis with or without pregnancy morbidity in the presence of anticardiolipin (ACL) antibodies or the lupus anticoagulant (LAC). It can be primary, or secondary to other autoimmune diseases, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (...


1970 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-206
Author(s):  
MP Ranjith ◽  
Ranjith Divya ◽  
S Meera ◽  
Shabu Bahuleyan ◽  
Roney Joseph Kuryan

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by thrombosis, both arterial andvenous, recurrent spontaneous abortion and the persistence of positive antiphospholipid antibodies. Placentalthrombosis is believed to be the cause of recurrent abortions, characteristic of the syndrome. We report a pregnantwith antiphospholipid antibody syndrome patient with history of recurrent miscarriages and managed successfullywith high dose heparin.Keywords: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; recurrent intra uterine death; HeparinDOI: 10.3329/jom.v11i2.5476J MEDICINE 2010; 11 : 205-206


2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1628-1631 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANAT SCHEIMAN ELAZARY ◽  
MATAN J. COHEN ◽  
SUHAIL AAMAR ◽  
ZVI DRANITZKI ◽  
OSHRAT TAYER-SHIFMAN ◽  
...  

Objective.To characterize the clinical manifestations of patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) and pulmonary hemorrhage (PH).Methods.We performed a retrospective, single-center analysis of patients with APS who were followed up from 1980 to 2011. Of these patients, only those who fulfilled the Sydney criteria for APS were included. Patients with APS that manifested with PH were called the PHAPS group. The rest of the patients with APS served as controls. Clinical manifestations were compared between the PHAPS group and controls.Results.Sixty-three patients fulfilled the criteria for APS. Thirteen experienced PH and were included in the PHAPS group. Seventy-five percent of the patients with PHAPS and 22% of the controls had mitral valve disease (p = 0.001). Central nervous system (CNS) involvement (cerebrovascular accident, seizures) was present in 61% and 16% of the patients with PHAPS and controls, respectively (p = 0.001). Skin involvement (livedo reticularis, chronic leg ulcers) was present in 54% and 8% of the patients with PHAPS and controls (p = 0.001). Pregnancy morbidity occurred in 87.5% and 32.5% of the patients with PHAPS and controls (p = 0.005). Ninety-two percent and 83% of the patients with PHAPS had high-titer immunoglobulin γ (IgG) anticardiolipin and β2-glycoprotein I IgG antibodies compared to 43% and 30% of the controls (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively).Conclusion.Patients with PHAPS were more likely than controls to have mitral valve disease, skin disease, CNS involvement, and pregnancy morbidity as well as high-titer APS. PHAPS seems to be a unique subgroup of all patients with APS.


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