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Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Antiphospholipid Syndromeis not the name you expected.

Synonyms

APLS
APS
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
Hughes Syndrome
Lupus Anticoagulant Syndrome
PAPS
Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Asherson’s Syndrome)
CAPS

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
800: (800)598-4668
aarda@aarda.org
http://www.aarda.org/

Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
2000 L Street NW
Suite 710
Washington
DC
20036
USA
Tel: (202)349-1155
Fax: (202)349-1156
800: (800)558-0121
info@lupus.org
http://www.lupus.org

National Stroke Association
9707 East Easter Lane
Englewood
CO
80112-3747
USA
Tel: (303)649-9299
Fax: (303)649-1328
800: (800)787-6537
info@stroke.org
http://www.stroke.org

Thrombophilia Awareness Project
debsmith@fvleiden.org
http://www.fvleiden.org

Platelet Disorder Support Association
135 Rollins Ave Suite 5
Rockville
MD
20852
USA
Tel: (301)770-6636
Fax: (301)770-6638
800: (877)528-3538
pdsa@pdsa.org
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: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
800: (877)336-5333
mums@netnet.net
http://www.netnet.net/mums/

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

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick
NJ
08723
Tel: (732)664-9259
autoimmunehelp@aol.com
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
apsfa@apsfa.org
http://www.apsfa.org

National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia
120 White Plains Road
Suite 100
Tarrytown
NY
10591
Tel: (914)220-5040
800: (877)466-2568
info@stoptheclot.org
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
info@esid.org
http://www.esid.org

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

AutoImmunity Community
Tel: (919) 552-9057
bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
http://autoimmunitycommunity.org

For a Complete Report:

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 4/13/2007
Copyright 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Last Updated: April 13, 2007

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.