title: [Current topics in vascular disorders].
abstract: Much evidences have been accumulated that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), especially anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and lupus anticoagulant (LA), were associated with thromboembolism, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenia. These patients with clinical manifestations and aPL are classified into antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Patients with APS without known well-defined autoimmune diseases are assigned to primary APS. aCL found in sera from patients with the APS recognize epitope(s) on beta 2-glycoprotein I bound to cardiolipin. LA is bound to the complex of prothrombin and anionic phospholipids. Patients with APS can be treated by low dose aspirin, warfarin or heparin. A few patients with aPL develop an acute and multiple organ involvements of APS. These patients are designated as catastrophic APS and are treated intensively by corticosteroid, immunosuppression, plasmapheresis or streptokinase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, Hokkaido University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koike
mesh_terms: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000032:analysis; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D001323:Autoantibodies