title: What do we know about the cardiac valve lesion in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)?
abstract: Heart valve disease (HVD) is the most common cardiac manifestation in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Valve lesions should be described according to the established definition. HVD is progressive despite anticoagulant/antiplatelet treatments. Around 4-6% of patients with HVD in APS will require valve replacement surgery, which is considered a very high risk procedure in APS. Unfortunately, no recommendations regarding medical treatment of antiphospholipid antibodies-associated HVD can be made at this moment. There are evidence-based data and strong pathophysiologic rationale for considering HVD as a manifestation of APS. Thus, HVD should be included as a criterion of definite APS.
authors.affiliation: ABC Medical Center - Rheumatology, Mexico marycarmenamigo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Amigo
mesh_terms: D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans
keywords: Antiphospholipid syndrome; Hughes syndrome; cardiovascular disease