Antiphospholipid syndrome

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Antiphospholipid syndrome
Micrograph showing thrombotic microangiopathy, as may be seen in antiphospholipid syndrome
Synonyms	Hughes syndrome
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Thrombosis, recurrent miscarriage, stroke, deep vein thrombosis
Complications	Pulmonary embolism, renal failure, heart attack
Onset	Usually in adulthood
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Autoimmune disease
Risks	Systemic lupus erythematosus, infections, medications
Diagnosis	Blood test for antiphospholipid antibodies
Differential diagnosis	Systemic lupus erythematosus, thrombophilia, disseminated intravascular coagulation
Prevention	Anticoagulation in high-risk individuals
Treatment	Anticoagulants such as warfarin, heparin
Medication	Warfarin, heparin, aspirin
Prognosis	Variable, depends on severity and management
Frequency	1-5 per 100,000 people per year
Deaths	Can be fatal if not treated

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against phospholipid-binding proteins, most notably β₂-glycoprotein I and cardiolipin. These antibodies increase the risk of blood clot formation in both arteries and veins, as well as pregnancy complications such as recurrent miscarriage, stillbirth, and preeclampsia. APS may occur as a primary condition or in association with other autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Pathophysiology

APS results from an immune-mediated attack on phospholipid-protein complexes. This leads to endothelial cell activation, platelet aggregation, and impaired fibrinolysis, which together promote a hypercoagulable state. The most commonly implicated autoantibodies are:

• Lupus anticoagulant
• Anti-cardiolipin antibodies
• Anti-Œ≤‚ÇÇ glycoprotein I antibodies

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of APS stem from thrombotic events and may include:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Ischemic stroke
• Transient ischemic attack
• Recurrent miscarriages or stillbirth
• Livedo reticularis ‚Äì a lacy purplish skin discoloration
• Thrombocytopenia
• Seizures, dementia, chorea, and other neurological disorders

Venous blood clots in legs due to Antiphospholipid syndrome.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on both clinical and laboratory criteria, evaluated on two occasions at least 12 weeks apart:

• At least one clinical criterion: vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity.
• At least one laboratory criterion:
  • Positive lupus anticoagulant
  • Moderate to high titers of anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG or IgM)
  • Positive anti-Œ≤‚ÇÇ glycoprotein I antibodies

Diagnostic techniques include:

• Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)
• Dilute Russell‚Äôs viper venom time (DRVVT)
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
• Genetic thrombophilia screening (e.g., factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, MTHFR mutation)

Types

• Primary APS: Occurs in the absence of other autoimmune conditions.
• Secondary APS: Occurs with conditions like SLE.
• Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS): A rare, life-threatening variant involving widespread microvascular thrombosis.

Neurological Features

• Stroke, migraine, cognitive dysfunction, epilepsy
• Rarely: Chorea, transverse myelitis, optic neuropathy, psychosis

Obstetric Manifestations

• Recurrent first trimester miscarriages
• Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
• Preterm birth due to preeclampsia or placental insufficiency

Treatment

APS is managed by preventing thrombosis and managing associated autoimmune disease:

• Anticoagulation: Warfarin, Heparin, Low molecular weight heparin
• Low-dose aspirin
• In pregnancy: Heparin and aspirin combination is preferred.
• For CAPS: Plasma exchange, glucocorticoids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)

Prognosis

With proper treatment, long-term outlook is generally favorable. Patients require lifelong monitoring, especially during pregnancy and surgical procedures. The risk of recurrence is significant if therapy is discontinued.

History

APS was first described by Dr. Graham Hughes in the early 1980s, hence its alternative name, Hughes syndrome.

See also

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Coagulopathy
• Thrombophilia
• Autoimmune diseases
• Pregnancy loss
• Stroke

External links

• Johns Hopkins Lupus Center ‚Äì APS
• NIH ‚Äì National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• UpToDate ‚Äì Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis