Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Antiphospholipid Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
APLS
APS
Hughes Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare immunological disorder characterized by recurring blood clots. Blood clots can form in any blood vessel of the body. The specific symptoms and severity of APS vary greatly from case to case depending upon the exact location of a blood clot and the organ system affected. APS may occur as an isolated disorder (primary antiphospholipid syndrome) or may occur along with another autoimmune disorder such as systemic lupus erythematosus (secondary antiphospholipid syndrome).

APS is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in the body. Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by the body’s immune system to fight infections. In individuals with APS, certain antibodies mistakenly attack healthy tissue. This healthy tissue is a certain proteins that bind to phospholipids. Phospholipids are a type of fat molecule that is involved in the proper function of cell membranes and found throughout the body. The reason for these antiphospholipid antibodies attacking the phospholipid proteins and the process by which they cause blood clots is not known.

Resources

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/

Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
2000 L Street NW
Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
USA
Tel: 2023491155
Fax: 2023491156
Tel: 8005580121
Email: info@lupus.org
Internet: http://www.lupus.org

National Stroke Association
9707 East Easter Lane
Englewood, CO 80112-3747
USA
Tel: 3036499299
Fax: 3036491328
Tel: 8007876537
Email: info@stroke.org
Internet: http://www.stroke.org

Antiphospholipid Antibody Support Group
Marvin Nelson
4228 Deer Path Road
Apex, NC 27539-7282
Tel: (919)362-8977
Internet: http://www.egroups.com/group/aplsuk

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Tel: (732)262-0450
Fax: (732)262-0450
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aininc.org

APS Foundation of America, Inc
PO Box 801
624 North 10th Street
Suite 4
La Crosse, WI 54602-0801
Tel: (608)782-2626
Fax: (608)782-6569
Email: apsfa@apsfa.org
Internet: http://www.apsfa.org

National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia
PO Box 66018
Washington, DC 20035
Tel: (860)376-3250
Fax: (614)293-2314
Email: nattinfo@yahoo.com
Internet: http://www.nattinfo.org

Hughes Syndrome Foundation
Louise Coote Lupus Unit
Gassiot House
St. Thomas' Hospital
London, SE1 7EH
England
Tel: 0207-188-8217
Email: hsf@btconnect.com
Internet: http://www.hughes-syndrome.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 4/13/2007
Copyright 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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