Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS): symptoms, causes and medications

Definition

What is that antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)?

Antiphospholipid syndrome (Antiphospholipid syndrome), or what is commonly abbreviated as APS, is a type of autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks normal body tissues to cause damage.

Normally, the immune system is equipped with antibodies, which are a type of protein that normally helps defend the body against infection. However, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disease in which the body's antibodies don't work normally and turn to attack phospholipids, a type of fat in the body.

When antibodies attack phospholipids, cells become damaged. This damage causes blood clotting disorders in the form of blood clot formation in the body's arteries and blood vessels.

Blood clotting is a normal process in your body that prevents you from bleeding excessively. However, antiphospholipid syndrome, also known as Hughes syndrome, triggers excessive blood clotting. As a result, blood clots or clots can block blood flow and damage organs.

In rare cases, APS can lead to platelet disease or disorders. This is of course closely related to the blood clotting problem caused by this syndrome, so that the platelet levels in the body can be affected.

How common is this condition?

APS is a disease that can occur in people of all ages. However, based on information from the Genetics Home Reference website, as many as 20% of people under 50 years of age who have had a stroke are also suspected of having this syndrome.

In addition, this disease is more often found in female patients. About 70% of people with APS are women.

This syndrome is also quite common in people who suffer from autoimmune disorders or rheumatic problems, such as lupus. It is estimated that 10-15% of patients with SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) have this syndrome too.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of antiphospholipid syndrome?

The signs and symptoms of antiphospholopid syndrome (APS) are:

• Chest pain and shortness of breath
• Pain, redness, feeling hot, and swelling in the legs
• Ongoing headache
• Change of speech
• Upper body discomfort in the arms, back, neck, and jaw
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
• Decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia)

Symptoms of a stroke, such as slurred speech, paralysis, numbness, weakness, loss of vision, and problems swallowing can also occur if you have this disease.

Other parts of the body that are affected include the lungs, digestive tract, kidneys, and skin.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Experiencing any of the signs or symptoms listed above
• Pregnant women with APS
• Shows signs of an overdose after taking anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners)

Cause

What are the causes of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)?

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a condition that occurs when the immune system makes antibodies (proteins) that attack phospholipids. Phospholipids are a type of fat found in body cells, including blood cells and blood vessel walls.

When antibodies attack phospholipids in cells, an interaction occurs that affects the blood clotting process. As a result, sufferers have a tendency to experience thrombosis (blood clots) in their blood vessels, both veins and arteries. This blood clot is at risk of causing a heart attack and stroke.

However, until now it is not known what causes antibodies to attack phospholipids in the body, and how antibodies can cause blood to thick and clot more easily.

A person's chances of getting APS are higher if they experience:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Scheel syndrome
• Sjogren's Syndrome

Certain drugs such as hydralazine, quinidine, phenytoin, and amoxicillin can also cause APS.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for getting antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)?

There are many risk factors that trigger it antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), including:

• People who have autoimmune disorders or other rheumatic conditions
• People who actively smoke
• Prolonged rest (bed rest)
• Rarely move the body
• Pregnancy and the period after giving birth
• Taking birth control pills and hormone therapy
• Have cancer and kidney disease

Complications

What are the health complications caused by this syndrome?

Depending on which organs are affected by blood clots due to APS, this syndrome is a situation that can have serious health complications if not treated properly.

The following are some of the serious health problems that can occur due to antiphospholipid syndrome:

• Kidney failure
• Stroke
• Heart and blood vessel problems
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or arterial thrombosis
• Lung problems, such as pulmonary embolism

If a pregnant woman is affected by this syndrome, she is at risk for various pregnancy complications, such as:

• High blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia)
• Premature birth
• Miscarriage
• The fetus dies in the womb (stillbirth)

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for healing

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disease that cannot be completely cured, but the use of drugs can help prevent complications.

The goal of treatment is to prevent blood clots and keep existing blood clots from getting bigger.

Your doctor may give you heparin and warfarin. Routine blood tests are needed to monitor the viscosity level of the blood.

If APS is caused by another disease, it is important to treat that disease as well. Pregnant women who have APS are usually treated with low-dose heparin and aspirin. Warfarin is not used as treatment during pregnancy because it can harm the fetus.

What are the usual tests to diagnose antiphospholipid syndrome

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat antiphospholipid syndrome or APS:

• Avoid sports activities that involve direct physical contact.
• Use a soft toothbrush.
• Use an electric shaver.
• Be careful when using knives, scissors and other sharp objects.
• Limit eating foods that contain vitamin K such as broccoli, mustard greens, soybeans. Vitamin K can make warfarin less effective.
• Consult your doctor before using medications or supplements

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.