What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome?

The signs and symptoms of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) are related to abnormal blood clotting. The outcome of a blood clot depends on its size and location.

Blood clots can form in or travel to the arteries or veins in the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and limbs. Clots can limit or block blood flow. This can damage the body’s organs and may cause death.

Major Signs and Symptoms

Major signs and symptoms of blood clots include:

• Chest pain and shortness of breath
• Pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in the limbs
• Ongoing headaches
• Speech changes
• Upper body discomfort in the arms, back, neck, and jaw
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)

Blood clots can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney damage, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis.

Pregnant women who have APS can have successful pregnancies. However, they're at higher risk for miscarriages, stillbirths, and other pregnancy-related problems, such as preeclampsia (pre-e-KLAMP-se-ah).

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy. This condition may progress to eclampsia. Eclampsia is a serious condition that causes seizures in pregnant women.

Some people who have APS also have thrombocytopenia. This is a condition in which your blood has a low number of blood cells called platelets. Mild to serious bleeding causes the main signs and symptoms of thrombocytopenia. Bleeding can occur inside the body (internal bleeding) or on the skin.

Other Signs and Symptoms

Other symptoms of APS include chronic headaches, memory loss, or heart valve disease. Some people who have the disorder also get a lacy-looking red rash on their wrists and knees.