ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN THE ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME - FOCUS FOR FUTURE-RESEARCH

Pregnant patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) may suffer from recurrent pregnancy loss, pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restrict ion and placental abruption. These conditions inevitably result in a h igh incidence of premature delivery with all the neonatal complication s that follow. The mechanism underlying these adverse pregnancy outcom es has not yet been established. This may be primarily a maternal dise ase process with secondary placental maldevelopment and/or malfunction . Alternatively, there may be primary placental damage mediated direct ly or indirectly by antiphospholipid antibodies. The safe and successf ul treatment of pregnant women with APS lies in the understanding of t he aetiology of this condition and the mechanism by which complication s in pregnancy may arise. In this article we highlight areas in which research may be targeted such that our understanding of the pathogenes is of adverse pregnancy outcome may be enhanced.