title: Antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune systemic disease that is diagnosed when there is vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity occurring with persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) (lupus anticoagulant test, anticardiolipin antibodies, and/or anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies). Although International APS Classification Criteria have been formulated to provide a uniform approach to APS research, aPL may cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations, some of which are not included in these criteria. The main aPL-related cardiac manifestations include valve abnormalities (vegetations and/or thickening), myocardial infarction (MI), intracardiac thrombi, and myocardial microthrombosis. In this article, we will review the definition, etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of aPL-related clinical events with emphasis on cardiac manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. dtg24@pantheon.yale.edu
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Doruk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erkan
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin