title: Role of complement in antiphospholipid antibody-mediated thrombosis.
abstract: The mechanisms by which an antibody that reacts with phospholipids (universal components of mammalian membranes) causes thrombosis are not immediately obvious. The development of an animal model of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome has moved the field forward in dissecting the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and has implicated the complement system in the mechanism of disease. Understanding complement's role in promoting thrombosis will be important in designing safer, more effective approaches to the treatment of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies, and may shed light on which patients are at greatest risk for thrombosis, perhaps permitting primary prophylaxis before irreversible tissue and organ damage occur.
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Bielstein 2B2316, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. kathleen-oneil@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: O'Neil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000276:immunology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D003165:Complement System Proteins