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Current status and implications of autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies in relation to thrombotic disease
Author(s) -
Arnout J.,
Vermylen J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1046/j.1538-7836.2003.00125.x
Subject(s) - medicine , autoimmune disease , antiphospholipid syndrome , disease , antibody , thrombosis , immunology , autoantibody , autoimmunity
Summary. This review briefly describes the development of the concepts of antiphospholipid antibody and of antiphospholipid syndrome. It focuses on the two main antigenic targets, β 2 glycoprotein I and prothrombin. An excessive production of natural antibodies rather than an immune response to exogenous antigen is proposed as pathogenetic for the development of these antibodies. The review attempts to explain how some of these antibodies are anticoagulant in vitro yet prothrombotic in vivo . The final section discusses when to test for such antibodies, how to test and how to consider treatment of patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome.