title: Duration of anticoagulation treatment for thrombosis in APS: is it ever safe to stop?
abstract: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an auto-immune thrombophilia for which anti-thrombotic medication is necessary for long-term management to reduce thrombotic risk or pregnancy morbidity. Choosing the type of pharmacological treatment, i.e. the intensity and duration of anticoagulation, depends on the severity of an individual's APS and the risk of bleeding. This article reviews the current literature on anticoagulation therapy, provides recommendations on when to initiate therapy, and suggests possible alternatives for optimisation of management.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Rd, London, UK. sp1604@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sinthiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Punnialingam
authors.forename: Munther A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khamashta
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000188:drug therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin