Antiphospholipid syndrome and cancer

Abstract

Antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome (APS) is an acquired prothrombotic status, that is due to the occurrence of a certain type of autoantibodies directed against negatively charged phospholipid structures – hence the name. Neoplasia is also characterized by a systemic procoagulant status, through various mechanisms. Obviously, both conditions may occur in the same patient, raising the question of a possible causal relation. Regardless of the potential liaison between the two events, clinicians caring for neoplastic patients as well as for APS patients, should be aware of the presence of both conditions in the same patient, as this has important therapeutic consequences.