title: Musculoskeletal manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: The scope of clinical and laboratory manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has increased dramatically since its discovery in 1983, where any organ system can be involved. Musculoskeletal complications are consistently reported in APS patients, not only causing morbidity and mortality, but also affecting their quality of life. We reviewed all English papers on APS involvement in the musculoskeletal system using Google Scholar and Pubmed; all reports are summarized in a table in this review. The spectrum of manifestations includes arthralgia/arthritis, avascular necrosis of bone, bone marrow necrosis, complex regional pain syndrome type-1, muscle infarction, non-traumatic fractures, and osteoporosis. Some of these manifestations were reported in good quality studies, some of which showed an association between aPL-positivity and the occurrence of these manifestations, while others were merely described in case reports.
authors.affiliation: Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M H A
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Noureldine
authors.affiliation: Lupus Research Unit, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College University, London, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khamashta
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, The Royal London Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merashli
authors.affiliation: Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sabbouh
authors.affiliation: London Lupus Center, London Bridge Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G R V
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon iuthman@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uthman
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Antiphospholipid syndrome; antibodies; arthralgia; arthritis; avascular necrosis; bone marrow necrosis; complex regional pain syndrome; muscle infarction; non-traumatic fractures; osteoporosis