Antiphospholipid antibodies and the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is a multisystem disorder characteri zed by persistently elevated antiphospholipid antibodies and/or arterial or venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia and recurrent spontaneous abortion. An ticardiolipin antibodies and the lupus anticoagulant are different classes of antiphospholipid antibodies associated with this disorder. Various hemat ologic, neurologic, obstetric and cutaneous abnormalities are manifest in t his syndrome. This article reviews the characteristic features of the antip hospholipid antibody syndrome. (C) 2000 Prous Science. All rights reserved.