ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES

The term 'antiphospholipids' (APL) refers to heterogeneous auto-antibo dies, including anticardiolipins detected by immunological methods and lupus anticoagulants detected by clotting tests. APL are currently of considerable interest, both from a clinical and a biological point of view, since their presence is associated with thromboembolic events. bz this review, the authors emphasize the diversity of the clinical se ttings where APL al-e diagnosed and investigate the relationship betwe en APL and thrombosis. The heterogeneity of APL and the lack of standa rd techniques make their laboratory diagnosis difficult and require th e use of various types of tests. several pathogenic mechanisms, all I elated to a possible effect of APL on the antithrombotic functions of vascular endothelium, have been proposed : decrease in prostacyclin sy nthesis, induction of procoagulant activity, inhibition of the endothe lial anticoagulant functions, and impairment of fibrinolysis. Given th e heterogeneity of these antibodies, it is unlikely that a single mech anism can account for their prothrombotic effect.