Antiphospholipid syndrome

Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2009 Sep-Oct;52(2):115-25. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2009.06.005.

Abstract

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune systemic disease that is diagnosed when there is vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity occurring with persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) (lupus anticoagulant test, anticardiolipin antibodies, and/or anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies). Although International APS Classification Criteria have been formulated to provide a uniform approach to APS research, aPL may cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations, some of which are not included in these criteria. The main aPL-related cardiac manifestations include valve abnormalities (vegetations and/or thickening), myocardial infarction (MI), intracardiac thrombi, and myocardial microthrombosis. In this article, we will review the definition, etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of aPL-related clinical events with emphasis on cardiac manifestations.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / immunology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / complications
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / epidemiology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / immunology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome* / therapy
  • Aspirin / administration & dosage
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / blood
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • Myocardial Infarction / immunology
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy Complications / therapy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Thrombosis / epidemiology
  • Thrombosis / immunology
  • Thrombosis / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Aspirin