Differential diagnosis of central nervous system manifestations of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been associated with a variety of n eurologic manifestations. The evidence for an association between aPL and m ost of these is weak because (1) no association actually exists, (2) the ma nifestation is rare or (3) sufficiently powered studies have not been perfo rmed. Tnf only neurologic manifestation that is considered to have sufficie nt evidence to justify it being a part of the criteria for the diagnosis of Anti-phospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) is cerebral ischemia. In this mi ni-review, most of the neurologic syndromes with an actual or suspected ass ociation with aPL are considered. The role of aPL in the differential diagn osis of these syndromes is considered as well. (C) 2000 Academic Press.