An approach to differential diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and related conditions.
The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is a systemic, acquired, immune-mediated disorder characterized by episodes of venous, arterial, or microcirculation thrombosis and/or pregnancy abnormalities, associated with the persistent presence of autoantibodies, confirmed at least in two occasions 12 weeks apart, directed to molecular complexes consisting of phospholipids and proteins. Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome should always be considered as a potential diagnosis especially for young patients presenting with a history of thrombotic events, in particular when they occur without any obvious external trigger or any inherited thrombophilic mutation (even if 2006 criteria do not exclude antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in patients with other inherited or acquired prothrombotic conditions), or for women with recurrent pregnancy losses or later fetal deaths. Many other disorders are able to mimic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, so a broad range of alternative diagnoses should be investigated and ruled out during clinical workup.
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Giacomo
G
Emmi
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Elena
E
Silvestri
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Danilo
D
Squatrito
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Lucia
0000-0001-6361-9351
L
Ciucciarelli
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Anna Maria
0000-0002-3078-2387
AM
Cameli
Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
Gentian
0000-0001-6484-0007
G
Denas
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy ; SOD Patologia Medica, Center for Autoimmune Systemic Diseases, Behçet Center and Lupus Clinic, AOU Careggi Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Mario Milco
MM
D'Elios
Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
Vittorio
V
Pengo
SOD Patologia Medica, Center for Autoimmune Systemic Diseases, Behçet Center and Lupus Clinic, AOU Careggi Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Lorenzo
0000-0002-0775-2710
L
Emmi
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy ; SOD Patologia Medica, Center for Autoimmune Systemic Diseases, Behçet Center and Lupus Clinic, AOU Careggi Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy.
Domenico
D
Prisco
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid