Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Antiphospholipid Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
• APLS
• APS
• Hughes Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare immunological disorder characterized by recurring blood clots. Blood clots can form in any blood vessel of the body. The specific symptoms and severity of APS vary greatly from case to case depending upon the exact location of a blood clot and the organ system affected. APS may occur as an isolated disorder (primary antiphospholipid syndrome) or may occur along with another autoimmune disorder such as systemic lupus erythematosus (secondary antiphospholipid syndrome).

APS is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in the body. Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by the body’s immune system to fight infections. In individuals with APS, certain antibodies mistakenly attack healthy tissue. This healthy tissue is a certain proteins that bind to phospholipids. Phospholipids are a type of fat molecule that is involved in the proper function of cell membranes and found throughout the body. The reason for these antiphospholipid antibodies attacking the phospholipid proteins and the process by which they cause blood clots is not known.

Resources

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/

Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
2000 L Street NW
Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
USA
Tel: 2023491155
Fax: 2023491156
Tel: 8005580121
Email: info@lupus.org
Internet: http://www.lupus.org

National Stroke Association
9707 East Easter Lane
Englewood, CO 80112-3747
USA
Tel: 3036499299
Fax: 3036491328
Tel: 8007876537
Email: info@stroke.org
Internet: http://www.stroke.org

Thrombophilia Awareness Project

Email: debsmith@fvleiden.org
Internet: http://www.fvleiden.org

Platelet Disorder Support Association
135 Rollins Ave Suites
Rockville, MD 20852
USA
Tel: 3017706636
Fax: 3017706638
Tel: 8775283538
Email: pdsa@pdsa.org
Internet: http://www.pdsa.org

MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: 9203365333
Fax: 9203390995
Tel: 8773365333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Antiphospholipid Antibody Support Group
Marvin Nelson
4228 Deer Path Road
Apex, NC 27539-7282
Tel: (919)362-8977
Internet: http://www.egroups.com/group/aplsuk

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Tel: (732)262-0450
Fax: (732)262-0450
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aininc.org

APS Foundation of America, Inc
PO Box 801
624 North 10th Street
Suite 4
La Crosse, WI 54602-0801
Tel: (608)782-2626
Fax: (608)782-6569
Email: apsfa@apsfa.org
Internet: http://www.apsfa.org

National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia
120 White Plains Road
Suite 100
Tarrytown, NY 10591
Tel: (914)220-5040
Tel: (877)466-2568
Email: info@stoptheclot.org
Internet: http://stoptheclot.org/index.htm

European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Jeroen Bosch Hospital
Dept. Paediatrics
P.O. Box 90153
Hertogenbosch, 5200 ME's
Netherlands
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +31 73-6992948
Email: info@esid.org
Internet: http://www.esid.org

Hughes Syndrome Foundation
Louise Coote Lupus Unit
Gassiot House
St. Thomas' Hospital
London, SE1 7EH
England
Tel: 0207-188-8217
Email: hsf@btconnect.com
Internet: http://www.hughes-syndrome.org

AutoImmunity Community

Tel: (919)-55-2-9057
Email: bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
Internet: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org