[Laboratory diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
The antiphospholipid syndrome is a bioclinical entity defined by the occurrence of thromboses, and/or obstetrical complications in the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, i.e. lupus anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin antibodies. This review focuses on the methods for antiphospholipid antibodies detection and their clinical usefulness.


BACKGROUND
Lupus anticoagulant is the strongest risk factor for thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome. Twenty years after its description, anticardiolipin ELISA, despite a still improvable standardization and its lack of specificity, is still required for sensitive diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
A better knowledge of the beta-2-glycoprotein-I role in the pathophysiology of antiphospholipid syndrome might lead to the development of new markers of thrombotic risk.
Darnige
L
L
Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, 20-40, rue Leblanc, 75908 Paris cedex 15, France. luc.darnige@hop.egp.ap-hop-paris.fr
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D011516:Prothrombin