The Open Autoimmunity Journal

2010, 2 : 18-20
Published online 2010 March 11. DOI: 10.2174/1876894601002010018
Publisher ID: TOAUTOJ-2-18

Critical Update of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome Criteria

Vittorio Pengo and Amelia Ruffatti
Clinical Cardiology, Thrombosis Center University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2 , 35128 Padova, Italy

ABSTRACT

Diagnosis of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is made when vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity occur in patients with circulating antiphospholipid antibodies [lupus anticoagulant (LA) and/or IgG/IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) and/or IgG/IgM anti-β2glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies]. Although each test may identify different autoantibodies, a single positive test makes the diagnosis possible when positive on two or more occasions at least 12 weeks apart. However, single test positivity may be unrelated to pathogenic antibodies that are now considered a subclass of aβ2GPI directed to Domain I of the protein. Conversely, all the test positive identify a single class of aβ2GPI antibodies and identify high risk patients with APS.

Keywords:

Antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity.