ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME

SUMMARY

1. Primary or secondary (drugs, infection).

2. APS is characterized by the presence of 1 or more antiphospholipid antibodies (LAC, anticardiolipin, anti-beta2-glycoprotein) along with either vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity.

3A. Vascular thrombosis:
- venous (deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism)
- arterial clots (stroke, myocardial infarction)

3B. Pregnancy morbidity presenting as:
- miscarriage of a normal fetus at >= 10-weeks gestation
- birth of 1 or more premature babies at < 34-weeks gestation because of eclampsia / preeclampsia / placental insufficiency
- multiple miscarriages (>=3) at <10-weeks gestation

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].