title: Long-term follow-up of ischaemic retinopathy in the antiphospholipid syndrome with lupus-like disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), as an acquired prothrombotic disorder, is increasingly being recognised as an important cause of systemic venous and arterial thrombosis. The defining feature of the condition is the presence of raised levels of antibodies to negatively charged phospholipids in the serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe 2 cases of APS with ocular involvement and review the recent literature. Both patients experienced acute visual loss. It was the presenting symptom in one case--a finding that led to the diagnosis of the syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Management with anticoagulation therapy, in which the International Normalised Ratio (INR) has been maintained at or above 3, resulted in reperfusion of the ischaemic retina and stabilisation of the retinopathy in one patient, whilst in the other case, where the INR was less than 3, irreversible visual loss occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anticoagulation with warfarin appears to result in reperfusion of ischaemic retina with stabilisation of the neovascular process when the INR is greater than 3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Countess of Chester Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hickey-Dwyer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology*; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood; D012171:Retinal Vessels
chemical_list: D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor