In plain words
Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune condition. The immune system makes antibodies that can make blood clot more easily. It can cause clots in veins or arteries, and it can affect the placenta. In pregnancy it is linked with recurrent early loss, later loss, , and preterm birth. It is diagnosed with specific blood tests, repeated over time. Many people with the antibodies never have problems. Clinicians look for it after two or more losses, or after certain pregnancy complications. If you have had more than one loss, ask your provider whether they will check for it. Many people with this condition have healthy pregnancies with specialist care.
The deeper version
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the revised Sydney criteria (Miyakis and colleagues, 2006), which require a clinical criterion (vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity) plus persistent lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin, or anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies at least 12 weeks apart. Obstetric criteria include one or more unexplained fetal deaths at or beyond 10 weeks, preterm birth before 34 weeks due to preeclampsia or placental insufficiency, or three or more unexplained consecutive early losses. , two or more losses by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine definition (2012), raises the probability of persistent maternal factors including APS. Pregnancy outcome in APS improves with antithrombotic therapy in trial and observational evidence. The controversy concerns antibody testing after a single loss and the optimal antithrombotic regimen.
Where it comes up
What mothers here say about antiphospholipid syndrome
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Sources
- Miyakis S and colleagues, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis — International consensus statement on an update of the classification criteria for definite antiphospholipid syndrome (2006)
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine — Evaluation and treatment of recurrent pregnancy loss, committee opinion (2012)