Antiphospholipid syndrome

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disorder that is characterized by the presence of antibodies directed against phospholipid moieties in conjunction with venous and/or arterial thromboembolic events and/or obstetrical complications. There are other associated features including but not limited to seizures, thrombocytopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, livedo reticularis, and renal disease. Rare complications include the catastrophic APS in which multiple clotting events occur simultaneously or in rapid succession. The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome can be seen by itself; primary APS, or in conjunction with other diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); secondary APS. This chapter will discuss the clinical manifestations and the management of the APS.