title: A practical approach to the prevention of miscarriage: part 5--antiphospholipid syndrome as a cause of spontaneous abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the diagnosis and treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome as it relates to spontaneous abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relative importance of performing tests of antiphospholipid antibodies that prolong the partial thromboplastin time and other autoantibodies against phospholipids measured by ELISA are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most important diagnostic tests are the lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody and antiphosphatidyl serine. Low molecular weight heparin and low dose aspirin are the two most important therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with recurrent miscarriages or even an unexplained miscarriage especially after ten weeks (but sometimes even early first trimester) or a history of thrombosis or intrauterine growth restriction and maybe preeclampsia are candidates for anticoagulant therapy, especially with the presence of significant levels of the lupus anticoagulant or anticardiolipin or antiphosphatidyl serine antibodies (> 40 pl units/ml).
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Check
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D001241:Aspirin