Top 10 clinical research developments in antiphospholipid syndrome

Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013 Oct;15(10):367. doi: 10.1007/s11926-013-0367-6.

Abstract

Persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity are a characteristic of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Although many challenges and controversies exist regarding APS diagnosis and management, there has been significant progress in APS clinical research in parallel with increased understanding of the pathogenesis. The purpose of this review is to discuss the "top ten" recent clinical developments in APS, including the magnitude of the problem, standardization of aPL tests, predictors of clinical events, diagnostic algorithms, new clinical research collaboration, and potential future treatments, e.g., new anticoagulants and immunosuppressive agents.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / immunology*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Biomedical Research / trends*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications / immunology
  • Thrombosis / diagnosis*
  • Thrombosis / drug therapy
  • Thrombosis / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Immunosuppressive Agents