Antiphospholipid syndrome, Blood Clots When Pregnancy

News Health Articles - Antiphospholipid syndrome, Blood Clots When Pregnancy.

Description

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder in which the immune system mistakenly produces antibodies against specific proteins in the normal blood. Antiphospholipid syndrome can cause the formation of blood clots in the arteries or veins as well as for pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage and stillbirth.

Antiphospholipid syndrome can cause the formation of blood clots in the legs, which is a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Antiphospholipid syndrome can also cause blood clots that form in organs such as kidneys or lungs.



Damage depends on the extent and location of blood clots. For example, a clot in the brain can cause strokes. There is no cure for antiphospholipid syndrome, but drugs can be effective in reducing the risk of blood clots.

Cause

In antiphospholipid syndrome, the body mistakenly produces antibodies against phospholipid binding proteins. The antibodies present in blood lipids that play an important role in the clotting (coagulation). Antibodies are special proteins that normally invade the body, such as viruses and bacteria.

There are two major classifications of the antiphospholipid syndrome:

1. Primary
If you do not have other autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), may have a primary antiphospholipid syndrome.
2. Secondary
If you have lupus or autoimmune disorders, including antiphospholipid syndrome in secondary classification.

With secondary antiphospholipid syndrome, the cause is considered to be lupus or other autoimmune disorders. Causes of primary antiphospholipid syndrome is unknown. However, several factors associated with the development of antiphospholipid antibodies may include:

1. Infection
People with syphilis, HIV infection, hepatitis C, and malaria, have a higher incidence of having antiphospholipid antibodies.

2. Drugs
Eating certain drugs, such as hydralazine which is high blood pressure medications, drugs that regulate heart rhythm, anti-seizure drug phenytoin (Dilantin), and the antibiotic amoxicillin may cause an increased risk.

3. Genetic predisposition
Although the disorder is not considered hereditary, studies show that relatives of people with the syndrome are more likely to have antiphospholipid antibodies.

Symptom

Signs and symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome may include:
1. Blood clots in the legs, ie deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which may be able to walk into the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
2. Recurrent miscarriage or stillbirth and other complications of pregnancy such as premature birth and high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia)
3. Stroke

Treatment

Doctors generally use drugs that reduce the tendency of blood to clot to treat patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. If you have a thrombosis, standard initial treatment initially involves a combination of anticoagulant medications (blood thinners). These drugs, among others:

1. Heparin
Typically, will be given an injection or infusion of blood with heparin, which combined with blood thinners in pill form, the possibility of warfarin (Coumadin).

2. Warfarin
After several days of consuming a combination of heparin and warfarin, your doctor will stop the heparin and warfarin continued, perhaps for the rest of the patient's life.

3. Aspirin
In some cases, doctors may recommend adding low-dose aspirin in the patient's treatment plan.

Sources: MayoClinic