Antiphospholipid antibodies

OBJECTIVE: To review the role of lupus anticoagulants in the pathogenesis of both venous and arterial thromboembolic events, as well as in recurrent spontaneous abortions. The pathophysiology of lupus anticoagulants and associated antiphospholipid antibodies (eg, anticardiolipin antibodies) is also discussed. DATA SOURCES: Review of the recent medical literature. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Key articles in the recent medical literature dealing with lupus anticoagulants and their role in pathogenesis of thromboembolic events were reviewed. Plasma proteins that have an affinity for binding to "perturbed cellular membranes" have been identified as the antigenic targets for antiphospholipid antibodies. Thus, the concept of antiphospholipid antibodies needs to be reevaluated. Perhaps a better term is antiprotein-phospholipid antibodies. The principal antigenic protein targets are beta(2)-glycoprotein I, prothrombin, and a wide range of additional proteins that interact with activated cellular membranes, including protein C, protein S, annexin V, etc. Most research reported in the literature has focused on beta(2)-glycoprotein I and human prothrombin.