Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome from lupus
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Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome from lupus
About 25% of people with lupus produce an antibody that attacks certain blood-clotting factors, causing the blood to clot easily.1 This condition is called antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and can lead to mild or severe blood-clotting complications, including:
- Stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or heart attack.
- Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
- Multi-infarct dementia.
- Gangrene of fingers or toes.
- Kidney disease.
- Preeclampsia, premature birth, and miscarriage or stillbirth, apparently caused by blood circulation problems in the placenta.
Antiphospholipid antibodies can be detected with a blood test. Once diagnosed, the condition is usually treated with anticoagulants. Pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome require close monitoring.
References
Citations
Schur PH (2004). Systemic lupus erythematosus. In L Goldman, D Ausiello, eds., Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed., vol. 2, pp. 1660–1670. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Credits
| Author | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH |
| Author | Ralph Poore |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
| Last Updated | May 17, 2006 |
| Last updated: | May 17, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Ralph Poore |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Terrina Vail |
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