[The antiphospholipid syndrome]

The author summarized contemporary findings on anti-phospholipid autoantibodies, their different types and probable site of action. This autoimmune phenomenon produces some typical clinical symptoms which made it necessary to describe them as the so-called anti-phospholipid syndrome. If concurrently some autoimmune disease is present, in particular lupus erythematosus , this syndrome is considered "secondary". If this is not the case, it is assumed that the "primary form" is involved. The author suggests diagnostic criteria and in large groups of patients suffering from SLE the true prevalence of different symptoms of this syndrome is tested with participation of anti-phospholipid antibodies.