title: Anti-phospholipid antibodies and pregnancy loss.
abstract: Anti-phospholipid antibodies such as the lupus anticoagulant and anti-cardiolipin antibodies, are antibodies directed at negatively charged phospholipids and have received much attention in the last decade. Their presence has been associated with a thrombotic tendency, leading to a variety of clinical symptoms. In the pregnant woman, the presence of these antibodies may have consequences for management, since retrospective reports have established a correlation between the lupus anticoagulant or anti-cardiolipin antibodies with intrauterine fetal death, probably due to placental thrombosis. This article reviews current knowledge on anti-phospholipid antibodies in relation to pregnancy loss, focusing on clinical aspects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Out
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bruinse
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Derksen
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000266:history; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D010743:Phospholipids