Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was characterized as an autoimmune condition with the production of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) associated with thrombosis and morbidity in pregnancy. The prevalence of aPL in the population ranges from 1% to 5% in patients with APS. The hypotheses regarding pathophysiological mechanisms are strongly related to binding proteins and antiphospholipid antibodies. The exact mechanisms by which they lead to clinical manifestations appear to be heterogeneous, but it is believed which aPL contribute to the cellular activation/coagulation, and so cause the thrombotic events. The treatment of APS should be an individual character and several factors should be taken into accounts, such as a number of antibodies, the age of the patient and the history of thrombotic events.

Keywords

• antiphospholipid antibodies
• antiphospholipid syndrome
• autoimmune diseases
• pregnancy complications