Antiphospholipid syndrome

Question 1

What is Antiphospholipid syndrome?

Answer 1

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also known as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, is the association of antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody, and/or anti-beta2-glycoprotein I) with a variety of clinical features characterised by thromboses and pregnancy-related morbidity.

Question 2

What are the risk factors of antiphospholipid syndrome?

Answer 2

> History of autoimmune or rheumatological diseases like SLE

Question 3

What are the signs and symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome?

Answer 3

> Pregnancy or pregnancy loss
> Vascular thrombosis (or past)
> Thrombocytopenia features (e.g. purpura)
> Arthritis or arthralgia
> Livedo reticularis
> Cardiac murmur
> Oedema

Question 4

What is the epidemiology of antiphospholipid syndrome?

Answer 4

The actual incidence of APS is unknown, and the disorder is probably underdiagnosed. APS has been reported to have a prevalence of between 1.0% and 5.6% in normal healthy populations and may increase with age

Question 5

What investigations would you do for antiphospholipid syndrome?

Answer 5

> Lupus anticoagulant
> Anticardiolipin antibodies
> Anti beta 2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies
> ANA
> FBC- thrombocytopenia
> Creatinine and urea- elevated if nephropathy