Antiphospholipid syndrome

In medicine, antiphospholipid syndrome is the "presence of antibodies directed against phospholipids (antiphospholipid antibody). The condition is associated with a variety of diseases, notably systemic lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue diseases, thrombopenia, and arterial or venous thromboses. In pregnancy it can cause abortion. Of the phospholipids, the cardiolipins show markedly elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (anticardiolipin antibody). Present also are high levels of lupus anticoagulant (lupus anticoagulant inhibitor)."

Antibodies

 * Lupus anticoagulant antibodies. These are detected by prolong clotting times such as partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) or dilute prothrombin time (PT). These are more specific tests.
 * Anticardiolipin antibodies. These are antibodies to a phospholipid and are detected by immunoassays (usually enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays).
 * Anti–β2-glycoprotein I. These are antibodies to a phospholipid-binding protein and are detected by immunoassays (usually enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays).