The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: diagnostic aspects.
OBJECTIVE
The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is an important cause of arterial and/or venous thrombosis. In this review the authors discuss recent trends in the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of this syndrome that are of relevance to ophthalmologists.


RESULTS
The diagnostic criteria of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome have been reviewed and revalidated recently. Few prospective studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with retinal vascular occlusion and the spectrum of ophthalmologic findings in patients with established antiphospholipid syndrome. New antibody tests for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome are available with increased sensitivity and specificity, but lack of standardization, and interassay and interlaboratory variation makes it difficult to determine their clinical value.


CONCLUSIONS
Ophthalmologists should be familiar with the spectrum of clinical manifestation of antiphospholipid syndrome, the diagnostic criteria of this disease, and be able to carry out a basic laboratory workup for this entity. A high index of suspicion for this disorder is also important in making the diagnosis.
Behbehani
Raed
R
Neuroophthalmology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. r_behbehani@hotmail.com
Sergott
Robert C
RC
Savino
Peter J
PJ
D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans