Definition and Epidemiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Abstract

Accurate definition and epidemiology of a disease are the first steps to understand clinical and global burden of a disease. Although antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has a clear definition for classification of patients with a limited spectrum of clinical and laboratory criteria, a broader spectrum of clinical manifestations exists, and thrombosis may be multifactorial. A standard definition of APS is challenging. Although data on epidemiology of APS are limited, being based on small scale studies or studies with methodological limitations, this chapter gives the best synthesis possible today.