Access to the full text of this article requires a subscription or payment. Please log in or subscribe below.

  1. Danielle Cohen, research fellow1,
  2. Stefan P Berger, nephrologist2,
  3. Gerda M Steup-Beekman, rheumatologist, internist3,
  4. Kitty W M Bloemenkamp, maternal fetal medicine specialist4,
  5. Ingeborg M Bajema, pathologist1
  1. 1Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Centre, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Centre and Department of Internal Medicine, Haga Teaching Hospital, PO Box 40551, 2504 LN the Hague, Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Centre and Bronovo Hospital, PO Box 96900, 2509 JH the Hague
  4. 4Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Centre
  1. Correspondence to: D Cohen d.cohen{at}lumc.nl

    Summary points

    • If untreated, antiphospholipid syndrome can lead to permanent disability, severe maternal or perinatal morbidity, or even death

    • Symptoms can occur in virtually all organ systems

    • Venous thrombosis and stroke are the most common thrombotic manifestations

    • In pregnancy the syndrome is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes

    • The lupus anticoagulant test is the most useful because positivity correlates most strongly with clinical manifestations

    • Cardiac valvular disease is an important clinical manifestation and may contribute to the risk of stroke

    Antiphospholipid syndrome was first described 27 years ago in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and positive anticardiolipin antibodies, who presented with a clotting syndrome that affected arteries and veins.1 Female patients had a high risk of recurrent miscarriage and late fetal loss. The international classification criteria for this syndrome used today are based on those initial clinical observations.2

    The syndrome is under-recognised and underdiagnosed and can have devastating consequences if untreated, mainly because of uncontrolled thrombosis. Difficulties in diagnosis are compounded by a lack of standardisation of diagnostic tests. Early recognition is crucial, because treatment can reduce mortality and morbidity in relatively young people who often present with diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and deep vein thrombosis.

    Because of its variable clinical presentation, patients with antiphospholipid syndrome present to a variety of medical practitioners. Here, we introduce this complicated and intriguing syndrome, and provide basic guiding principles for the recognition, diagnosis, and management of affected patients.

    Sources and selection criteria

    We searched the following databases for evidence from systematic reviews, clinical trials, and prospective cohort studies: PubMed (1949 to January 2010), Embase (1980 to January 2010), Web of Science (1945 to January 2010), Cochrane Library (1990 to January 2010), CINAHL (1982 to January 2010), and Academic Search Premier (1865 to January 2010). All relevant keyword variations were used. In general, the …

    Access to the full text of this article requires a subscription or payment

    Subscribe

    Article access

    Article access for 1 day

    Purchase this article for £20 $30 €32*

    The PDF version can be downloaded as your personal record

    * Prices do not include VAT

    Rapid responses

    THIS WEEK'S POLL

    BMJ most popular