Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome in Obstetric Practice

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is an uncommon, often fatal, form of the antiphospholipid syndrome that results in a widespread coagulopathy and affects predominantly small vessels supplying organs with the development of multiorgan failure against a background of high level of antiphospholipid antibodies. Thrombotic microvasculopathy is the basis of multiorgan failure and clinically manifests with CNS disturbances, adrenal failure, and the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. CAPS is a life-threatening condition and requires urgent measures. Optimal treatment for CAPS is not developed yet. CAPS present a multidisciplinary problem. Authors demonstrate 17 cases of CAPS in patients which were managed from 2001 to 2012 years. Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and different obstetric and non-obstetric manifestations of CAPS are discussed in the article. There is the description of first case of management of pregnancy and labor of patient with CAPS in her history. The methods of CAPS prevention are described