Task force report on “non-criteria” antiphospholipid antibody tests

Abstract

Current classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) recommend the use of one or more of three positive standardized laboratory assays to detect antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the presence of at least one of the two major clinical manifestations (i.e., thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity). However, several other autoantibodies shown to be directed against phospholipids other than cardiolipin and/or their complexes with proteins of the coagulation cascade have also been proposed to be important in APS. This chapter summarizes the recommendations of a Task Force of worldwide scientists who discussed and analyzed critical questions related to “noncriteria” aPL tests in an evidence-based manner, during the 13th International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies (APLA 2010, April 13–16, 2010, Galveston, TX).