ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an acquired disorder characterised by a predisposition to both venous and arterial thromboses, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenia. It may occur as a primary disorder or secondary to other conditions, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Question 2

what does antiphospholipid syndrome cause in regards to APTT and why?

Answer 2

rise in APTT

ex-vivo reaction of the lupus anticoagulant autoantibodies with phospholipids involved in the coagulation cascade

Question 3

features

Answer 3

venous/arterial thrombosis
recurrent fetal loss
livedo reticularis
thrombocytopenia
prolonged APTT
other features: pre-eclampsia, pulmonary hypertension

Question 4

associations

Answer 4

see
other autoimmune disorders
lymphoproliferative disorders
phenothiazines (rare)

Question 5

mx

Answer 5

primary thromboprophylaxis - low dose aspirin

secondary thromboprophylaxis - warfarin