How Is Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
Diagnosed?
Your doctor will diagnose antiphospholipid antibody
syndrome (APS) based on your medical history and the results from
blood
tests.
Specialists Involved
People who have APS often are treated by a
hematologist (a blood disease specialist). You may have APS and another
autoimmune disorder, such as
lupus. If so, you also may be treated by a doctor who
specializes in that disorder.
Many autoimmune disorders that occur with APS also
affect the joints, bones, or muscles. Rheumatologists specialize in treating
these types of disorders.
Medical History
Some people have APS antibodies, but dont ever
have signs or symptoms of the disorder. The presence of APS antibodies, by
itself, doesnt mean that you have APS.
To be diagnosed with APS, you must have APS
antibodies and a history of health problems related to the disorder. These
health problems may include
stroke,
heart
attack, kidney damage,
deep
vein thrombosis (throm-BO-sis),
pulmonary
embolism (PULL-mun-ary EM-bo-lizm), or pregnancy-related problems.
Pregnancy-related problems may include multiple
miscarriages, a miscarriage late in pregnancy, or a premature birth due to
eclampsia. (Eclampsia, which follows
preeclampsia, is a serious condition that causes seizures in
pregnant women.)
Blood Tests
Your doctor can use blood tests to confirm a
diagnosis of APS. These tests check your blood for any of the three APS
antibodies: anticardiolipin, B2 glycoprotein I, and lupus anticoagulant.
The term "anticoagulant" refers to a substance that
prevents blood clotting. It may seem odd that one of the APS antibodies is
called lupus anticoagulant. This is because the antibody slows clotting in lab
tests. However, in the human body, it increases the risk for blood clots.
To test for the APS antibodies, a small amount of
blood is taken from your body. It's often drawn from a vein in your arm using a
small needle. The procedure usually is quick and easy, but it may cause some
short-term discomfort, such as a slight bruise.
You may need a second blood test to confirm positive
results. This is because a single positive test can result from a short-term
infection. The second blood test often is done 12 weeks or more after the first
one.
Some healthy people may test positive for APS
antibodies but have no signs or symptoms of the disorder. The presence of the
APS antibodies, by itself, doesn't mean that you have APS. |