Therapeutic and prognostic considerations in catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rapidly progressive life-threatening disease that causes multiple organ thromboses in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. High index of clinical suspicion and careful investigation are required to make an early diagnosis so that treatment with anticoagulation, corticosteroids, and plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulins can be initiated. Despite this multi-modal treatment, CAPS is associated with high mortality; evidence-based management recommendations do not exist due to the rarity of the condition and the lack of controlled studies. This article reviews the therapeutic and prognostic controversies that were addressed during the 1st International Symposium on CAPS.
Erkan
Doruk
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The Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease, Division of Rheumatology, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 535 E70th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. derkan@pol.net
D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D002388:Catastrophic Illness / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011379:Prognosis; D011486:Protein C / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D011486:Protein C