Antiphospholipid antibody profile: implications for the evaluation and management of patients

According to the classification criteria of antiphospholipid syndrome, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin and anti-beta(2) glycoprotein I antibody assays are independent risk factors for the occurrence of vascular thrombosis and pregnancy loss. However, it is generally accepted that patients carrying multiple positivity have more a severe disease and higher recurrence rate despite treatment. On the other hand, the diagnostic value of a positive result in one only assay is more controversial, particularly in the presence of clinical manifestations such as deep vein thrombosis or early miscarriages, which are rather common in the general population. In this review we speculate on current and future strategies to interpret different antiphospholipid antibody profiles in the clinical practice. Lupus (2010) 19, 432-435.