New potential therapies for the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disease that, untreated, can have catastrophic consequences, primarily owing to uncontrolled thrombosis formation. At present, therapy is limited in the main to aspirin, heparin and warfarin. Each of these existing treatment options has its limitations.


OBJECTIVE
This article examines potential new treatment agents for APS from the patent literature.


METHODS
The worldwide patent literature from 2006 to 2008 was reviewed using the keywords thrombosis, platelets and antiphospholipid syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
Many of the patents proposed are for the treatment of thrombosis in general and not necessarily for the treatment of APS per se. However, they are still likely to be beneficial in the therapy of this disease.
Louise Coote Lupus Unit, St Thomas Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. amitsaha55@hotmail.com
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Saha
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D'Cruz
D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors