Antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the association of vascular thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity with the presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant. A wide range of pregnancy morbidity has been reported in APS including recurrent first-trimester miscarriage, second- and third-trimester fetal loss, severe early onset pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, abruption and prematurity. In recent years advances in therapy, particularly the use of heparin and aspirin, have been shown to reduce but not remove the risk of maternal and obstetric complications. Pregnant women with APS are high-risk patients and are best managed by a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians and physicians.