title: Antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: Antiphospholipid syndrome is diagnosed when arterial or venous thrombosis or recurrent miscarriages occur in a person in whom laboratory tests for antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant and/or anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I) are positive. Despite the strong association between antiphospho-lipid antibodies and thrombosis, their pathogenic role in the development of thrombosis has not been fully elucidated. Novel mechanisms involving both the complement pathway and micro-particles have been described. The knowledge of these new pathogenic approaches might identify novel therapeutic targets and therefore may improve the management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Institut Clínic de Medicina i Dermatologia, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. gespino@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cervera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid