[Antiphospholipid syndrome updating]

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was defined 20 years ago by Hughes as a thrombosis (arterial and/or venous) state and/or recurrent pregnancy loss in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies like lupic anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin, which sometimes coexist with thrombocytopenia. Although the prevalence of APS is estimated to be 3 to 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, many cases remain without a proper diagnosis. Recurrent thrombosis events can happen at any site in the vascular tree, yet most common affected sites are deep veins and cerebral arteries. As a result of its vast and protean manifestations, APS is currently being dealt with by most medical specialties. But despite research advances and improvements in its knowledge, many features of this syndrome such as its etiology and pathophysiology are not well understood yet. Standard therapy for vascular and obstetric problems is difficult because of the absence of evidence-based guidance and continues to be based on antiplatelet and anticoagulation drugs. Yet some authors claim individual treatments according to the risk of thrombosis or fetal loss. In this review we offer, through an extensive bibliographical search of the subject over the last 2 years, a view of the state-of-the-art of APS including current criteria for diagnosis, molecular basis, main associated clinical manifestations, management and treatment.