Placentation, antiphospholipid syndrome and pregnancy outcome

The antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are a diverse group of autoantibodie s associated with a pattern of disease known as antiphospholipid syndrome ( APS). Pregnancy complications secondary to placental insufficiency are key features of this disease. The mechanisms underlying the placental pathology remain unclear. In this article the process of placentation in healthy and pathological pregnancies is reviewed. The evidence for defective placentat ion in APS pregnancies and involvement of aPLs in this process is summarize d. Finally hypotheses based on the interpretation of these studies are disc ussed.