Cardiolipin Antibody It aint so Bad! All Links Checked 5/15/2000 The antiphospholipid syndrome. Hughes GR Lupus Research Unit, Rayne Institute, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK. The antiphospholipid syndrome, now 13 years old, embraces almost all specialties. After a slow start-possibly because many early descriptions were published largely in the rheumatology literature, the syndrome has become recognised worldwide as a major cause of venous-arterial thrombosis, strokes, valvular disease and recurrent abortion. Its prevalence may soon overtake that of its "parent' disease, Lupus There are several kinds of antiphospholipid antibodies. The most widely measured are the lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody. These antibodies react with phospholipid, a type of fat molecule that is part of the normal cell membrane. Lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody are closely related, but are not the same antibody. This means that someone can have one and not the other. There are other antiphospholipid antibodies, but they are not commonly measured. Antiphospholipid antibodies interfere with the normal function of blood vessels, both by causing narrowing and irregularity of the vessel (called "vasculopathy"), and by causing clots in the vessel (called "thrombosis"). These blood vessel problems can then lead to complications such as stroke, heart attack, and miscarriage. | |
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