Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is characterised by the blood having a tendency to clot too quickly. Clotting can occur in any vein or artery in the body, the most common symptoms being miscarriage, deep vein thrombosis and stroke although the clotting may affect the brain, the heart and the kidneys. We don't fully understand the process by which this clotting occurs.
Until 1982 APS was thought to be a feature of lupus until Dr Graham Hughes demonstrated that the majority of patients with APS didn't have lupus as well. People who have APS without having lupus are said to have primary APS whereas those who do have lupus as well are said to have secondary APS.
Catastrophic APS is a very rare form of this condition in which many organs are rapidly affected at once. Catastrophic APS has a high mortality rate.
According to the Hughes Syndrome Foundation APS accounts for:
It is important to note that 1-5% of healthy individuals have antiphospholipid antibodies but don't have APS. This means that a blood test is not a reliable indicator on its own when making a diagnosis of APS.
APS is more common in young to middle aged adults although it can affect the elderly and children.
