Update on antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

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 featur...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michelle Remião Ugolini Lopes, Adriana Danowski, Andreas Funke, Jozelia Rêgo, Roger Levy, Danieli Castro Oliveira de Andrade
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Médica Brasileira
Series:Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-42302017001100994&lng=en&tlng=en
Description
Summary: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.
ISSN:1806-9282