title: Should the presence of an antiphospholipid antibody affect the duration of anticoagulant treatment in patients with venous thromboembolism?
abstract: A 44-year-old otherwise healthy woman has completed 3 months of anticoagulation therapy for a first episode of unprovoked pulmonary embolism. At the time of diagnosis and before the initiation of anticoagulation, she was found to have an elevated IgG anticardiolipin antibody (ACLA), which was measured at 42 IgG phospholipid (GPL) units (reference range, <15 GPL units) with negative lupus anticoagulant (LAC) testing. Should this laboratory finding affect the recommended duration of anticoagulant therapy?
authors: 1University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Garcia
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D000925:Anticoagulants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D000925:Anticoagulants