New approaches for managing antiphospholipid syndrome

Secondary Erosive Arthritis in a Young Lady - A Rare Manifestation of Primary Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Arthritis in primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (PAPS) is a rare manifestation that is much more common in secondary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), particularly those associated with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), and has been reported to be non-erosive responding to conservative management. In this background, we describe a case of secondary erosive arthritis of knee (SEAK) in a female patient with PAPS.

CASE REPORT

Thirty-seven-year-old working women presented with chronic right knee pain for the past 2 years which was increasing in severity and interfering with her activities of daily living for the past 3 months. The patient was a known case of PAPS with a history of one early and one late abortion. On radiological examination, Grade IV secondary osteoarthritis knee was made out. The patient underwent total knee replacement. At 2 years follow-up, the patient had a good functional outcome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of secondary osteoarthritis in PAPS requiring arthroplasty. Perioperative management is crucial in PAPS to prevent thromboembolic complications. Multimodality approach with strict patient compliance is a key to achieve good functional recovery.

CONCLUSION

SEAK can be a rare presentation of PAPS. Secondary causes like SLE or rheumatoid arthritis must be ruled out before a diagnosis of PAPS is made. Perioperative management in APS is critical and challenging. Multidisciplinary team approach involving internal medicine, anesthesiology, orthopedics, and rehabilitative departments is essential.

Intracardiac thrombus in a patient with catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: an autopsy case report and review of the literature

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoantibody-mediated acquired thrombophilia characterized by venous and/or arterial thromboses, pregnancy morbidity (predominantly repeated fetal losses), and the presence of phospholipid antibodies. The estimated annual incidence of APS is 5 new cases per 100,000 people. The most common thrombotic events in patients with APS in order of frequency are stroke, transient ischemic attack, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Patients with APS may develop an intracardiac thrombus, which is a life-threatening complication with a high risk of increased morbidity and mortality; however, it is treatable by surgical removal, extensive anticoagulant administration, and prevention of other complications. Catastrophic APS, which is a rare and severe condition diagnosed based on rapidly progressive thromboembolic events involving three or more organs, systems, or tissues, occurs in less than 1% of all patients with APS. We herein report an autopsy case of catastrophic APS in a 12-year-old Thai boy with multiple thromboembolic events including intracardiac thrombus formation with a positive lupus anticoagulant test result. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest reported patient with APS to date.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome and the Kidney

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by a combination of arterial and/or venous thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity, and the persistent presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). APS has been described as primary APS when it occurs in the absence of any features of other autoimmune disease, and as secondary in the presence of other autoimmune diseases, mainly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There is a well-known link between SLE and APS; 40% of SLE patients have aPL, and, in turn, some, but only a minority of patients with APS, eventually will develop features of SLE. Because SLE and APS can target the kidneys independently or at the same time, discriminating between inflammatory or thrombotic lesions is crucial in planning therapy. We provide an overview of the renal manifestations associated with the presence of aPL in patients with SLE, and discuss the impact of aPL in selected scenarios such as lupus nephritis, end-stage renal disease, and pregnancy.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Kidney Involvement: New Insights

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder characterized by vascular thromboses and pregnancy morbidity associated with antiphospholipid antibodies: lupus anticoagulant, IgG or IgM anticardiolipin or anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I. The kidney is one of the major target organs in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). However, beyond the known involvement of the kidney in primary and associated APS, we may be observing a new form of APS within the context of renal failure. This review describes the classical kidney manifestations of APS and provides new considerations to be taken into account.

Rituximab usage in systemic lupus erythematosus-associated antiphospholipid syndrome: A single-center experience

OBJECTIVES

Although the data from primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) suggests a beneficial effect of rituximab usage, its therapeutic role remains to be defined in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-associated APS, a complex clinical situation with thrombotic events and lupus activity.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective analysis of rituximab usages in APS was performed in 800 hospitalized SLE patients.

RESULTS

There were 63 SLE-associated APS cases with 6 on rituximab therapy, all female aged 37.7 ± 9.0 years with 1 catastrophic and 16 thrombotic episodes. Therapeutic indications included warfarin failure despite the adequate target international normalized ratio with an average duration of 17.3 ± 11.2 months between the thrombotic recurrences. After the rituximab therapy, there was no relapse of thrombosis with a mean follow-up period of 39.3 ± 20.9 months, and a decrease in lupus activity (SLEDAI-2K, 9.7 ± 5.5 to 5.3 ± 2.2). Infection complications were observed, including episodes of bronchitis and urinary tract infection.

CONCLUSIONS

In this single-center study with largest case numbers and a long-term follow-up period, there were no recurrent thrombotic events after the rituximab therapy, implicating further consideration of large-scale trials enrolling more ethnic groups to evaluate its therapeutic role in SLE-associated APS patients.

Immunotherapy in antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disorder characterized by the association of arterial or venous thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant antibodies, and/or anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies). Thrombosis is the major manifestation in patients with aPLs, but the spectrum of symptoms and signs associated with aPLs has broadened considerably, and other manifestations, such as thrombocytopenia, non-thrombotic neurological syndromes, psychiatric manifestations, livedo reticularis, skin ulcers, hemolytic anemia, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac valve abnormality, and atherosclerosis, have also been related to the presence of those antibodies. Several studies have contributed to uncovering the basis of antiphospholipid antibody pathogenicity, including the targeted cellular components, affected systems, involved receptors, intracellular pathways used, and the effector molecules that are altered in the process. Therapy for thrombosis traditionally has been based on long-term oral anticoagulation; however, bleeding complications and recurrence despite high-intensity anticoagulation can occur. The currently accepted first-line treatment for obstetric APS (OAPS) is low-dose aspirin plus prophylactic unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). However, in approximately 20% of OAPS cases, the final endpoint, i.e. a live birth, cannot be achieved. Based on all the data obtained in different research studies, new potential therapeutic approaches have been proposed, including the use of new oral anticoagulants, statins, hydroxychloroquine, coenzyme Q10, B-cell depletion, platelet and TF inhibitors, peptide therapy or complement inhibition among others. Current best practice in use of these treatments is discussed.

Hydroxychloroquine as an anti-thrombotic in antiphospholipid syndrome

Elective therapeutic approaches are required since recurrent thrombosis remains a major challenge in the management of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) despite an efficient anticoagulation. Several data suggest that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) could play a role in the prevention of thrombosis. The goal of this review is to point out the different aspects that could suggest the usefulness and the efficacy of HCQ for the prevention of thrombosis relapse in APS. By Medline research we collected important data dealing with potential anti-thrombotic effects of HCQ. The mechanisms of action of HCQ, and clinical and experimental data in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and APS are discussed. As HCQ reduces the risk of thrombosis in both SLE patients and animal models of APS (1-7), and possibly decreases the titre of aPL [8], its beneficial role as a potential antithrombotic could be suggested.

Obstetrical APS: is there a place for hydroxychloroquine to improve the pregnancy outcome?

The use of the conventional APS treatment (the combination of low-dose aspirin and LMWH) dramatically improved the obstetrical prognosis in primary obstetrical APS (OAPS). The persistence of adverse pregnancy outcome raises the need to find other drugs to improve obstetrical outcome. Hydroxychloroquine is widely used in patients with various autoimmune diseases, particularly SLE. Antimalarials have many anti-inflammatory, anti-aggregant and immune-regulatory properties: they inhibit phospholipase activity, stabilize lysosomal membranes, block the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and, in addition, impair complement-dependent antigen-antibody reactions. There is ample evidence of protective effects of hydroxychloroquine in OAPS similar to the situation in SLE arising from in vitro studies of pathophysiological working mechanism of hydroxychloroquine. However, the clinical data on the use of hydroxychloroquine in primary APS are lacking and prospective studies are necessary.

Review on Effectiveness of Primary Prophylaxis in aPLs with and without Risk Factors for Thrombosis: Efficacy and Safety

Context. Antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that is characterized by the association between presence of antiphospholipid antibodies and risk of thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity. Objectives. To systematically review the evidence for primary prophylaxis in patients with antiphospholipids antibodies syndrome or APS with or without other traditional risk factors of thrombosis when they did not have any thrombotic event yet. Methods. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Allied Health Literature were searched for studies that examined the efficacy and safety of primary prophylaxis in aPL patients from 1990 to February 2013. We examined literature looking at patients with aPLs with other risk factors for thrombosis and aPLs with no additional risk factors for thrombosis. Conclusion. We concluded that, in patients with aPLs, primary prophylaxes with HCQ and aspirin have been observed to reduce the frequency of thrombotic events in the case of asymptomatic aPL-positive patients with SLE. We also in this study concluded that LDA was effective in patients with autoimmune diseases. Independent cardiovascular risk factors include autoimmune defects such as SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis, where overall venous thrombosis will be induced by systemic inflammation. This review concludes that HCQ is an effective primary approach when compared to aspirin.

[Efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of primary antiphospholipid syndrome: analysis of 24 cases from the bibliography review]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and thrombotic and/or obstetric manifestations. Patients without another associated autoimmune disease are considered to have primary APS. Some patients develop thrombosis recurrence despite anticoagulant treatment and some clinical features do not respond to standard therapy. Rituximab may be an alternative in these cases. We review the published scientific evidence on the use of rituximab in the treatment of primary APS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Description of a case and review of the literature with descriptive analysis of the demographic, clinical, and immunologic features, treatment and outcome of patients.

RESULTS

We identified 24 patients (15 women [62.5%]), with a mean age of 37.0 ± 13.4 years. The reasons for the use of rituximab were thrombocytopenia (41.7%), skin involvement (33.3%), neurologic and heart valve involvement (12.5%), hemolytic anemia (8.3%) and pulmonary and renal involvement (4.2%). Lupus anticoagulant was present in 72.7% of the cases, the IgG and IgM isotypes of anticardiolipin antibodies in 75 and 50%, respectively, and the anti-β2GPI (IgG e IgM) antibodies in 80% of patients. Thirteen (54.1%) patients received 2 doses of 1,000 mg of rituximab fortnightly, 10 (41.7%) 4 doses of 375 mg/m(2) weekly and one (4.2%) 8 doses of 375 mg/m(2) weekly. Eleven (45.8%) patients presented a complete clinical response, 7 (29.2%) a partial response and 6 (25%) did not respond to rituximab. Four patients with clinical improvement presented with aPL titer decrease and in one patient, aPL levels did not change. In one patient without clinical response, aPL remained positive. A clinical-immunologic dissociation existed in 2 additional cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained suggest a possible potential benefit of rituximab in the treatment of some clinical manifestations of primary APS such as thrombocytopenia, skin and heart valve involvement.

Renal involvement in antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease defined by the presence of arterial or venous thrombotic events and/or pregnancy morbidity in patients who test positive for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). APS can be isolated (known as primary APS) or associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; known as secondary APS). The kidney is a major target organ in APS and renal thrombosis can occur at any level within the vasculature of the kidney (renal arteries, intrarenal arteries, glomerular capillaries and renal veins); events reflect the site and size of the involved vessels. Histological findings vary widely, including ischaemic glomeruli and thrombotic lesions without glomerular or arterial immune deposits on immunofluorescence. Renal prognosis is affected by the presence of aPLs in patients with lupus nephritis and can be poor. In patients with SLE and aPLs, biopsy should be performed because inflammatory and thrombotic lesions require different therapeutic approaches. Renal involvement in patients with definite APS is treated by anticoagulation with long-term warfarin. The range of renal manifestations associated with APS is broadening and, therefore, aPLs have increasing relevance in end-stage renal disease, transplantation and pregnancy.

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome with concurrent thrombotic and hemorrhagic manifestations

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a distinct autoimmune prothrombotic disorder due to pathogenic autoantibodies directed against proteins that bind to phospholipids. APS is characterized by arterial and venous thrombosis and their clinical sequelae. Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare and often fatal form of APS characterized by disseminated intravascular thrombosis and ischemic injury resulting in multiorgan failure. Rarely, intravascular thrombosis in CAPS is accompanied by hemorrhagic manifestations such as diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Here, we report a 43-year-old woman who presented with anemia, acute gastroenteritis, abnormal liver function tests, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, and a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The patient developed respiratory failure as a result of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage followed by acute renal failure. Laboratory tests disclosed hematuria, proteinuria, and reduced platelet count. Microbiologic tests were negative. A renal biopsy demonstrated acute thrombotic microangiopathy and extensive interstitial hemorrhage. Serologic tests disclosed antinuclear antibodies and reduced serum complement C4 concentration. Coagulation studies revealed the lupus anticoagulant and autoantibodies against cardiolipin, beta 2-glycoprotein I, and prothrombin. High-dose glucocorticoids and plasma exchange resulted in rapid resolution of pulmonary, renal, and hematological manifestations. This rare case emphasizes that CAPS can present with concurrent thrombotic and hemorrhagic manifestations. Rapid diagnosis and treatment may result in complete recovery.

Anticoagulation in management of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in pregnancy

Knowledge of antiphospholipid antibodies and their impact on pregnancy continues to evolve. A variety of antiphospholipid antibodies have been identified, but not all of them seem to be pathologic for pregnancy outcome. Understanding of which patients are at high risk for adverse pregnancy outcome and the most effective treatment will require clinical trials based on risk stratification and long-term follow-up of infants.

Renal involvement in autoimmune connective tissue diseases

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that share certain clinical presentations and a disturbed immunoregulation, leading to autoantibody production. Subclinical or overt renal manifestations are frequently observed and complicate the clinical course of CTDs. Alterations of kidney function in Sjögren syndrome, systemic scleroderma (SSc), auto-immune myopathies (dermatomyositis and polymyositis), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) as well as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are frequently present and physicians should be aware of that.In SLE, renal prognosis significantly improved based on specific classification and treatment strategies adjusted to kidney biopsy findings. Patients with scleroderma renal crisis (SRC), which is usually characterized by severe hypertension, progressive decline of renal function and thrombotic microangiopathy, show a significant benefit of early angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use in particular and strict blood pressure control in general. Treatment of the underlying autoimmune disorder or discontinuation of specific therapeutic agents improves kidney function in most patients with Sjögren syndrome, auto-immune myopathies, APSN and RA.In this review we focus on impairment of renal function in relation to underlying disease or adverse drug effects and implications on treatment decisions.

Pregnancy and antiphospholipid syndrome

APS causes adverse pregnancy outcome, especially in younger patients with SLE or prior thromboses. LAC is the best predictor of adverse outcome. Prior conclusions on the efficacy of heparin for prevention of poor outcome may be suspect. New therapies are under evaluation in animal models but how to introduce them into the clinic is unclear.

Seizures in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: the relevance of smoking to stroke

Objectives. To evaluate the frequency of seizures in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) and their possible clinical and laboratory associations. Methods. Eighty-eight PAPS patients (Sydney's criteria) were analyzed by a standard interview, physical examination and review of medical charts. Risk factors for seizures, clinical manifestations, associated comorbidities, and antiphospholipid antibodies were evaluated. Results. Nine (10.2%) patients with seizures were identified, 77.8% had convulsions onset after PAPS diagnosis. Mean age, gender, and race were comparable in groups with or without seizures. Interestingly, a higher frequency of current smoking (44.4 versus 10.1%, P = 0.019) was observed in the first group. Stroke, Sneddon's syndrome, and livedo reticularis were more frequent in PAPS patients with seizures than those without seizures, although not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Comparison between patients with seizures onset after PAPS diagnosis (n = 7) and those without convulsions (n = 79) demonstrated a higher frequency of current smoking (42.9 versus 10%, P = 0.042) and stroke in the first group (71.4 versus 30.4%, P = 0.041). Regression analysis confirmed that smoking (P = 0.030) and stroke (P = 0.042) were independently associated to seizures. Conclusion. About 10.2% of PAPS patients had convulsions, predominantly after PAPS diagnosis, and seizures were associated to current smoking and stroke.

High positive antibody titers and adverse pregnancy outcome in women with antiphospholipid syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), high positive antibody titers are associated with adverse pregnancy outcome.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data.

SETTING

Sheba Medical Center, Israel, a tertiary referral center. POPULATION SAMPLE: Pregnant women with APS.

METHODS

Anticardiolipin, a-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant were measured before pregnancy. Women were divided into those with antibody titers >four times the upper limit of normal (high positive titer, HPT group), and the rest, into the positive titer (PT) group. All women were treated with daily enoxaparin and aspirin.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Composite adverse fetal/neonatal outcome, defined as one or more of the following: fetal/neonatal loss, preterm birth ≤ 32 weeks, and birthweight below than 10th percentile. Composite adverse fetal/neonatal outcome was compared between the HPT and PT groups. Maternal adverse outcomes were also compared.

RESULTS

51 women with APS were followed during 55 pregnancies, 20 in the HPT and 35 in the PT groups. The two groups were similar with regard to previous obstetric and clinical characteristics. Among HPT women, only 7/20 (35%) pregnancies culminated in appropriately grown, live-born infants >32 weeks' gestation, compared with 27/35 (77%) PT pregnancies. The risk of adverse fetal/neonatal outcome was 5.7 times higher (95%CI 1.9-17.7) for HPT than for PT women.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with APS and high positive antiphospholipid antibody titers are a unique and extremely high risk group for adverse fetal/neonatal outcome. Stricter surveillance and possibly additional therapy options should be explored for this patient population.

A retrospective study of pulmonary infarction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from southern Taiwan

Since large-scale reports of pulmonary infarction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are limited, a retrospective study was performed for this manifestation in 773 hospitalized patients in southern Taiwan from 1999 to 2009. Pulmonary infarction was defined as the presence of pulmonary embolism, persistent pulmonary infiltrates, and characteristic clinical symptoms. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological images data were analyzed. There were 12 patients with pulmonary embolism and 9 of them had antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Six patients (19 to 53 years, average 38.2 ± 12.6) with 9 episodes of lung infarction were identified. All cases were APS and four episodes had coincidental venous thromboembolism. There were four episodes of bilateral infarction and seven episodes of larger central pulmonary artery embolism. Heparin therapy was routinely prescribed and thrombolytic agents were added in two episodes. Successful recovery was noted in all patients. In conclusion, there was a 0.8% incidence of pulmonary infarction in patients with SLE, all with the risk factor of APS. Differentiation between pulmonary infarction and pneumonia in lupus patients should be made; they have similar chest radiography with lung consolidation but require a different clinical approach in management. Although this report is a retrospective study with relatively small numbers of lupus patients with lung infarcts, our observation might provide beneficial information on the clinical features and radiological presentations during the disease evolution of pulmonary infarction in SLE with APS.

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome presenting as renal vein thrombosis and membranous nephropathy

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a multisystem auto-immune disorder characterized by thrombotic events and the presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies. Large vessel involvement in the form of thrombosis/stenosis and thrombotic microangiopathy is a commonly described renal finding. However, non-thrombotic glomerulopathies are increasingly being recognized in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. We report a rare occurrence of both renal vein thrombosis and membranous nephropathy in a previously healthy adolescent male. Investigations revealed persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies in the absence of an underlying systemic autoimmune disorder or malignancy. Our patient responded favourably to anti-proteinuric therapy and anticoagulation with complete resolution of proteinuria and a nearly occlusive thrombus.

Guidelines on the use of therapeutic apheresis in clinical practice--evidence-based approach from the Apheresis Applications Committee of the American Society for Apheresis

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Apheresis Applications Committee is charged with a review and categorization of indications for therapeutic apheresis. Beginning with the 2007 ASFA Special Issue (fourth edition), the subcommittee has incorporated systematic review and evidence-based approach in the grading and categorization of indications. This Fifth ASFA Special Issue has further improved the process of using evidence-based medicine in the recommendations by refining the category definitions and by adding a grade of recommendation based on widely accepted GRADE system. The concept of a fact sheet was introduced in the Fourth edition and is only slightly modified in this current edition. The fact sheet succinctly summarizes the evidence for the use of therapeutic apheresis. The article consists of 59 fact sheets devoted to each disease entity currently categorized by the ASFA as category I through III. Category IV indications are also listed.

What nephrologists need to know about antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis and/or pregnancy losses, in the presence of persistently elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and/or evidence of circulating lupus anticoagulant (LA). The kidney is a major target organ in both primary and secondary APS. With the expanding spectrum of renal diseases associated with APS, and the impact of APS in ESRD care, this subject is of increasing relevance to nephrologists. This review describes the various clinical manifestations and histological features of this syndrome, with reference to the kidney.

Cognitive dysfunction and white matter abnormalities in antiphospholipid syndrome

Diagnosis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) requires that a patient have both a clinical event (thrombosis or pregnancy loss) and persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Although stroke and transient ischemic attack are the most common neurologic manifestations of APS, both cognitive dysfunction and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) white matter hyperintensities can occur in aPL-positive patients (with or without APS). Relatively little is known about the cognitive pattern in aPL-positive patients; MRI white matter hyperintensities may be related to underlying attentional and executive cognitive impairment. Studies with sophisticated neuroimaging techniques aimed to better understand MRI white matter hyperintensities may eventually facilitate our understanding of cognitive dysfunction in aPL-positive patients.

Comparison between single antiplatelet therapy and combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy for secondary prevention in ischemic stroke patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

Satisfactory results have not yet been obtained in therapy for secondary prevention in ischemic stroke patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). We therefore compared single antiplatelet therapy and a combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy for secondary prevention in ischemic stroke patients with APS.The subjects were 20 ischemic stroke patients with antiphospholipid antibody, 13 with primary antiphospholipid syndrome and 7 with SLE-related antiphospholipid syndrome. Diagnosis of APS was based on the 2006 Sydney criteria. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to either single antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 100 mg) or a combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy (target INR: 2.0-3.0; mean 2.4+/-0.3) for the secondary prevention of stroke according to a double-blind protocol. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, NIH Stroke Scale on admission, mRS at discharge, or rate of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, or cardiac disease. We obtained Kaplan-Meier survival curves for each treatment. The primary outcome was the occurrence of stroke. The mean follow-up time was 3.9+/-2.0 years. The cumulative incidence of stroke in patients with single antiplatelet treatment was statistically significantly higher than that in patients receiving the combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy (log-rank test, p-value=0.026). The incidence of hemorrhagic complications was similar in the two groups. The recent APASS study did not show any difference in effectiveness for secondary prevention between single antiplatelet (aspirin) and single anticoagulant (warfarin) therapy. Our results indicate that combination therapy may be more effective in APS-related ischemic stroke.

Hydroxychloroquine protects the annexin A5 anticoagulant shield from disruption by antiphospholipid antibodies: evidence for a novel effect for an old antimalarial drug

Annexin A5 (AnxA5) is a potent anticoagulant protein that crystallizes over phospholipid bilayers (PLBs), blocking their availability for coagulation reactions. Antiphospholipid antibodies disrupt AnxA5 binding, thereby accelerating coagulation reactions. This disruption may contribute to thrombosis and miscarriages in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). We investigated whether the antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), might affect this prothrombotic mechanism. Binding of AnxA5 to PLBs was measured with labeled AnxA5 and also imaged with atomic force microscopy. Immunoglobulin G levels, AnxA5, and plasma coagulation times were measured on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and a syncytialized trophoblast cell line. AnxA5 anticoagulant activities of APS patient plasmas were also determined. HCQ reversed the effect of antiphospholipid antibodies on AnxA5 and restored AnxA5 binding to PLBs, an effect corroborated by atomic force microscopy. Similar reversals of antiphospholipid-induced abnormalities were measured on the surfaces of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and syncytialized trophoblast cell lines, wherein HCQ reduced the binding of antiphospholipid antibodies, increased cell-surface AnxA5 concentrations, and prolonged plasma coagulation to control levels. In addition, HCQ increased the AnxA5 anticoagulant activities of APS patient plasmas. In conclusion, HCQ reversed antiphospholipid-mediated disruptions of AnxA5 on PLBs and cultured cells, and in APS patient plasmas. These results support the concept of novel therapeutic approaches that address specific APS disease mechanisms.

Antiphospholipid syndrome

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune systemic disease that is diagnosed when there is vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity occurring with persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) (lupus anticoagulant test, anticardiolipin antibodies, and/or anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies). Although International APS Classification Criteria have been formulated to provide a uniform approach to APS research, aPL may cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations, some of which are not included in these criteria. The main aPL-related cardiac manifestations include valve abnormalities (vegetations and/or thickening), myocardial infarction (MI), intracardiac thrombi, and myocardial microthrombosis. In this article, we will review the definition, etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of aPL-related clinical events with emphasis on cardiac manifestations.