The anti-phospholipid syndrome

Preview

Antiphospholipid antibodies may be found in a variety of clinical situations, including in the absence of systemic disease. Certainly, for cost-effective healthcare, physicians should not spend resources evaluating otherwise healthy people. However, when features of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are also present, serious venous or arterial thrombosis or recurrent spontaneous abortion may ensue. The authors present a practical overview of the antibodies and how to uncover and manage APS.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dana V. Devine

Dana V. Devine, PhD Malcolm L. Brigden, MD, FRCPC Dr Devine (pictured) is associate professor, department of pathology and laboratory medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and a senior scientist with Canadian Red Cross Society Blood Services. Her particular professional interests are blood coagulation and fibrinolysis and complement function.

Malcolm L. Brigden

Dr Brigden is assistant head, hematology discipline, Metro- McNair Clinical Laboratories, Vancouver and Victoria, and consultant In hematology-oncology at Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals, Victoria, British Columbia.