Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Enter search terms to find related medical topics, multimedia and more. Advanced Search: • Use “ “ for phrases o [ “pediatric abdominal pain” ] • Use – to remove results with certain terms o [ “abdominal pain” –pediatric ] • Use OR to account for alternate terms o [teenager OR adolescent ] Search A-Z Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which patients have autoantibodies to phospholipid-bound proteins. Venous or arterial thrombi may occur. The pathophysiology is not precisely known. Diagnosis is by blood tests. Anticoagulation is often used for prevention and treatment. The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an Autoimmune Disorders In autoimmune disorders, the immune system produces antibodies to an endogenous antigen (autoantigen). The following types of hypersensitivity reactions may be involved: Type II: Antibody-coated... read more that consists of thrombosis and (in pregnancy) fetal demise caused by various antibodies directed against one or more phospholipid-bound proteins (eg, beta-2 glycoprotein 1, prothrombin, annexin A5). Annexin A5 may bind to phospholipid membrane constituents to prevent the cell membrane from participation in the activation of coagulation. If autoantibodies displace annexin A5, procoagulant endothelial cell surfaces may be exposed and provoke Overview of Thrombotic Disorders In healthy people, homeostatic balance exists between procoagulant (clotting) forces and anticoagulant and fibrinolytic forces. Numerou...

• Jason S Knight , associate professor of internal medicine • D Ware Branch , professor of obstetrics and gynecology • Thomas L Ortel , chief of hematology department, professor of medicine , professor of pathology • 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA • 2James R. and Jo Scott Research Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health and Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA • 3Division of Hematology, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA • Correspondence to: TL Ortel thomas.ortelduke.edu Abstract Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a thrombo-inflammatory disease propelled by circulating autoantibodies that recognize cell surface phospholipids and phospholipid binding proteins. The result is an increased risk of thrombotic events, pregnancy morbidity, and various other autoimmune and inflammatory complications. Although antiphospholipid syndrome was first recognized in patients with lupus, the stand alone presentation of antiphospholipid syndrome is at least equally common. Overall, the diagnosis appears to affect at least one in 2000 people. Studies of antiphospholipid syndrome pathogenesis have long focused on logical candidates such as coagulation factors, endothelial cells, and platelets. Recent work has shed light on additional potential therapeutic targets within the innate immune system, including the complement...

This brochure is also available on our downloads page. • Introduction • What is Antiphospholipid Syndrome? • APS Is an Autoimmune Disease • APS: The Statistics • Clinical Features of APS • How is APS Diagnosed? • APS Treatment and Prevention • Doctors and Information on APS • Women & APS • Other Points to Consider • Safety When Traveling • Take Your Medication • Symptoms to Watch For • Coping with APS • How Can You Help? • Disclaimer What is Antiphospholipid Syndrome? Antiphospholipid Syndrome or APS is an autoimmune disorder in which the body recognizes certain normal components of blood and/or cell membranes as foreign substances and produces antibodies against them. Patients with these antibodies may experience blood clots, including heart attacks and strokes, and miscarriages. APS may occur in people with systemic lupus erythematosus, other autoimmune diseases, or in otherwise healthy individuals. APS is formerly known as APLS, APLA, Hughes Syndrome or “Sticky Blood.” [ Top ] APS is an Autoimmune Disease One way in which our immune system fights infections is by making antibodies. Antibodies are proteins in the blood and body fluids that bind to foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses and help the immune system destroy and remove them. Sometimes the immune system doesn’t function properly and makes antibodies against normal organs and tissues in the body. These self-reactive antibodies are called autoantibodies. The autoantibodies in APS were originally thought to r...

Overview What is antiphospholipid syndrome? Antiphospholipid syndrome (also known as APS, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome or Hughes syndrome) is an autoimmune disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks proteins bound to phospholipids, a certain kind of fat found in all of the cells in your body. These antibodies make it much more likely that you will have blood clots in your arteries or veins, miscarriages and/or other pregnancy complications, such as How does antiphospholipid syndrome cause blood clots? If you have antiphospholipid syndrome, your immune system makes abnormal proteins called antiphospholipid antibodies in your blood. When the antibodies attack your phospholipids, cells can get damaged. This damage can contribute to the formation of How does antiphospholipid syndrome cause miscarriages? Healthcare researchers believe that small blood clots get stuck in the placenta of individuals who are pregnant and have antiphospholipid syndrome. The blood clots block the flow of nutrients to the baby and can cause a Who does antiphospholipid syndrome affect? Antiphospholipid syndrome can affect anyone, but females are five times more likely to have antiphospholipid syndrome than males. Most individuals with antiphospholipid syndrome are diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 40. How common is antiphospholipid syndrome? While healthcare professionals and researchers don’t have exact numbers on the prevalence of the disorder, antiphospholipid syndrome is thought ...