ABSTRACT
By concordance of symptoms in single patients, and by serology, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is closely linked to the disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). APS differs from SLE, and the differences define potentially fertile areas in which new clues to pathogenesis and therapy may be found. Antiphospholipid antibody, passively infused, appearing after active immunization, or appearing spontaneously in animals induces thrombocytopenia and fetal resorption. The assumption regarding the identity of the primary antigen was that it is a phospholipid that is either directly antigenic or is a mandatory component of an antigenic complex. In antiphospholipid antibody pregnancy, quantitation of pregnancy hormones, fetal growth rates, and fetal monitoring tests can be used as treatment goals to test treatment efficacy in real time. Principal decision for clinicians to make is whether to use anticoagulation, immunosuppression, or some other forms of treatment. For the clotting component of the APS, published studies consider antiplatelet, antithrombin, and vitamin K antagonist treatments.
