Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome and Lupus Anticoagulants
When an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack is caused by an autoimmune response of the body which makes the blood clutter....
APS is an autoimmune disease that affects blood clotting. This can cause blood clots to form in the blood vessels and block them. This can lead to a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Women who have experienced multiple miscarriages and childbirth deaths should be more vigilant about this condition.
Autoimmune disease
If the body's immune system will make antibodies against endogenous substances, it is called an autoimmune disease.
APS - Anti-phospholipid Syndrome
APS, abbreviation of anti-phospholipid syndrome, is a disease that causes that antibodies are generated against a component, called phosphor lipids, of the membrane of blood platelets. This results in a shortage of phospholipids that provide a solid vascular wall and which are building blocks of cells in the body.
This deficiency increases the risk of thrombosis.
The two major phospholipid antibodies are:
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Anticardiolipin (aCL)
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Lupus anticoagulant (LAC)
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Anti-β2-glycoproteine I (β2-GPI)
Where the presence of antibodies against phospholipids in most people will not cause problems, it may cause serious problems in others, like thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases, problems in pregnancy (miscarriage and death of the baby during pregnancy).
A cerebral infarction and / or a TIA may also be caused by such a blood clot.
APS is not a hereditary condition. However, APA (antiphospholipid antibodies/APA) is more common in relatives of patients with APS than in the general population.
Note! An increase of the antibodies against phospholipids can also be an innocent, temporary problem, for example after a flu or after an infection. That is why a blood test that showed an increase of the antibodies against phospholipids is repeated after a few weeks to see whether it is a permanent situation.
Treatment
Treatment takes place by providing anti-clotting in order to reduce and / or to prevent the risk of thrombosis and cerebral infarction.
Increased risk of lupus anticoagulant formation
People suffering from the autoimmune disease lupus or SLE (systemic lupus erythematosis), have an increased risk of developing lupus anticoagulant (LAC), one of the antibodies against antfosforlipide.
Cancer and HIV / AIDS, Crohn's disease and the use of certain medications can also be accompanied by formation of LAC.
Ask your doctor, neurologist, vascular expert or a clinical chemist for more information.
Factor V Leiden
There are other hereditary blood clotting disorders, such as factor V Leiden, caused by a mutation in the protein that regulates blood clotting. This may lead to spontaneous thrombosis.
Diagnosis of this condition is made through blood tests or DNA testing for the factor V Leiden mutation.
See also the rare blood disorders page.
More information on Dutch websites:
More information on English websites:
Video : a patient's journal with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
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