ABSTRACT
The concept of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), comprising venous and arterial thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss, and thrombocytopenia, has been expanded over the years and includes such diverse complications as heart valve lesions, adrenal insuffiency, and even avascular necrosis of the bone. The APS is characterized by venous and arterial thromboses and often multiple recurrent fetal losses frequently accompanied by a moderate thrombocytopenia in the presence of a lupus anticoagulant, elevated anticardiolipin antibodies, or both. Diagnosis of the syndrome can be based on the presence of any of the clinical manifestations together with the detection of either of the antiphospholipid antibodies. When multi-organ thrombotic events appear in a particular patient, a careful differential diagnosis should include the catastrophic APS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and disseminated intra-vascular coagulation. J. E. Moore and W. B. Lutz showed that patients in the latter category had a high incidence of autoimmune disorders, especially systemic lupus erythematosus.
