title: Antiphospholipid antibodies in critically ill patients.
abstract: Antiphospholipid antibodies are responsible for a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Venous, arterial and microvascular thrombosis and severe catastrophic cases account for a large morbidly/mortality. Through the connection between the immune, inflammatory and hemostatic systems, it is possible that these antibodies may contribute to the development of organ dysfunction and are associated with poor short and long-term prognoses in critically ill patients. We performed a search of the PubMed/MedLine database for articles written during the period from January 2000 to February 2013 to evaluate the frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies in critically ill patients and their impact on the outcomes of these patients. Only eight original studies involving critically ill patients were found. However, the development of antiphospholipid antibodies in critically ill patients seems to be frequent, but more studies are necessary to clarify their pathogenic role and implications for clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vassalo
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.affiliation: Hospital do Câncer, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ernesto de
authors.initials: Ed
authors.lastname: Meis
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jorge Ibrain Figueira
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Salluh
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid