The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. 1998

K R Johns, and G O Littlejohn
Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Victoria.

BACKGROUND Recurrent miscarriages cause enormous distress and despair for sufferers. In a small number of patients this condition forms part of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. The anticardiolipin antibodies became quantifiable in 1983, which has meant that those suffering with this condition could be identified. OBJECTIVE This article reviews the current understanding of this condition and offers an approach for managing patients with various components of this syndrome. CONCLUSIONS The decision to screen for these antibodies is sometimes difficult as they can be presented in the normal population. However, by identifying the patient suffering with this condition, treatment can offered which may prevent a further miscarriage or a pregnant patient suffering a thromboembolic episode.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010975 Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors Drugs or agents which antagonize or impair any mechanism leading to blood platelet aggregation, whether during the phases of activation and shape change or following the dense-granule release reaction and stimulation of the prostaglandin-thromboxane system. Antiaggregants, Platelet,Antiplatelet Agent,Antiplatelet Agents,Antiplatelet Drug,Blood Platelet Aggregation Inhibitor,Blood Platelet Antagonist,Blood Platelet Antiaggregant,PAR-1 Antagonists,Platelet Aggregation Inhibitor,Platelet Antagonist,Platelet Antagonists,Platelet Antiaggregant,Platelet Antiaggregants,Platelet Inhibitor,Protease-Activated Receptor-1 Antagonists,Antiplatelet Drugs,Blood Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors,Blood Platelet Antagonists,Blood Platelet Antiaggregants,Platelet Inhibitors,Agent, Antiplatelet,Aggregation Inhibitor, Platelet,Antagonist, Blood Platelet,Antagonist, Platelet,Antiaggregant, Blood Platelet,Antiaggregant, Platelet,Drug, Antiplatelet,Inhibitor, Platelet,Inhibitor, Platelet Aggregation,PAR 1 Antagonists,Platelet Antagonist, Blood,Platelet Antiaggregant, Blood,Protease Activated Receptor 1 Antagonists
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D006493 Heparin A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts. Heparinic Acid,alpha-Heparin,Heparin Sodium,Liquaemin,Sodium Heparin,Unfractionated Heparin,Heparin, Sodium,Heparin, Unfractionated,alpha Heparin
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000026 Abortion, Habitual Three or more consecutive spontaneous abortions. Abortion, Recurrent,Miscarriage, Recurrent,Recurrent Early Pregnancy Loss,Habitual Abortion,Habitual Abortions,Recurrent Abortion,Recurrent Abortions,Recurrent Miscarriage,Recurrent Miscarriages
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000925 Anticoagulants Agents that prevent BLOOD CLOTTING. Anticoagulant Agent,Anticoagulant Drug,Anticoagulant,Anticoagulant Agents,Anticoagulant Drugs,Anticoagulation Agents,Indirect Thrombin Inhibitors,Agent, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulation,Drug, Anticoagulant,Drugs, Anticoagulant,Inhibitors, Indirect Thrombin,Thrombin Inhibitors, Indirect
D001241 Aspirin The prototypical analgesic used in the treatment of mild to moderate pain. It has anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties and acts as an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase which results in the inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins. Aspirin also inhibits platelet aggregation and is used in the prevention of arterial and venous thrombosis. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p5) Acetylsalicylic Acid,2-(Acetyloxy)benzoic Acid,Acetysal,Acylpyrin,Aloxiprimum,Colfarit,Dispril,Easprin,Ecotrin,Endosprin,Magnecyl,Micristin,Polopirin,Polopiryna,Solprin,Solupsan,Zorprin,Acid, Acetylsalicylic
D016736 Antiphospholipid Syndrome The presence of antibodies directed against phospholipids (ANTIBODIES, ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID). The condition is associated with a variety of diseases, notably systemic lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue diseases, thrombopenia, and arterial or venous thromboses. In pregnancy it can cause abortion. Of the phospholipids, the cardiolipins show markedly elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (ANTIBODIES, ANTICARDIOLIPIN). Present also are high levels of lupus anticoagulant (LUPUS COAGULATION INHIBITOR). Anti-Phospholipid Antibody Syndrome,Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome,Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome,Hughes Syndrome,Anti Phospholipid Antibody Syndrome,Anti Phospholipid Syndrome,Antibody Syndrome, Anti-Phospholipid,Antibody Syndrome, Antiphospholipid,Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndromes,Syndrome, Anti-Phospholipid,Syndrome, Anti-Phospholipid Antibody,Syndrome, Antiphospholipid,Syndrome, Antiphospholipid Antibody,Syndrome, Hughes

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