According to a story from The Rheumatologist, there still remains much to be learned about the mysterious rare disease antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, which is also known as simply antiphospholipid syndrome. In this story, we will look at some of the latest findings related to this rare illness; however, as with much scientific research, these findings have raised a whole host of new questions that must be answered in order to begin treating antiphospholipid syndrome more effectively.
About Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition in which the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies increases a patient’s risk of dangerous blood clots and complications in pregnant women. The condition can appear on its own (primary) or can occur alongside another disease state (secondary). The main risk factor for primary antiphospholipid syndrome is the HLA-DR7 genetic marker. Risk factors for the secondary form include the genetic markers HLA-B8, HLA-DR3, and HLA-DR2, the presence of other autoimmune disorders such as lupus, and non-white racial ancestry. Symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome include blood clotting events such as a stroke or deep vein thrombosis, livedo reticularis (skin discoloration), low platelet count, migraine headaches, heart valve disease, oscillating field of vision, and pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, miscarriage, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Treatment approaches for antiphospholipid syndrome include aspirin, warfarin, plasmapheresis, and low molecular weight heparin. To learn more about antiphospholipid syndrome, click here.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome Research
Dr. Ware Branch is on the cutting edge of research related to this rare syndrome. He says that early miscarriage is the most commonly used symptom to diagnose antiphospholipid syndrome. There have been a number of clinical trials that have tested treatments for the condition, but Dr. Branch remains skeptical of the results, and he is not alone. The studies lack consistency in the testing methods that they used. In addition there often was not sufficient confirmatory testing done in the first place. Other potential issues included the overall design of the trials and the standards used to determine a positive response to treatment.
Dr. Branch also says that the standard treatment of aspirin plus low molecular weight heparin may not be worth the risk for pregnant women who are only low-positive for the antibodies. Another study found the even with this treatment, 19 percent of patients still experienced pregnancy complications. Limited awareness of the disease is also another issue that leaves many patients undiagnosed. The presence of lupus anticoagulant antibodies was linked to worse outcomes.
The doctor and his associates have recently launched a new trial which will test certolizumab as a supplemental therapy to the standard treatment regimen to see if outcomes for pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome can be improved.
