Recurrent thrombotic events after disappearance of antiphospholipid autoantibodies: A long-term longitudinal study in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the occurrence of thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity related to the presence of persistent antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL) [ [1] Miyakis S. Lockshin M.D. Atsumi T. Branch D.W. Brey R.L. Cervera R. et al. International consensus statement on an update of the classification criteria for definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). J. Thromb. Haemost. 2006; 4: 295-306 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5250) Google Scholar ]. The most frequent clinical manifestations of APS are thrombotic events and death may be caused by stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism or catastrophic APS [ [2] Cervera R. Serrano R. Pons-Estel G.J. Ceberio-Hualde L. Shoenfeld Y. de Ramón E. et al. Morbidity and mortality in the antiphospholipid syndrome during a 10-year period: a multicentre prospective study of 1000 patients. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2015 Jun; 74: 1011-1018 Crossref PubMed Scopus (442) Google Scholar ]. APS treatment is based on long term anticoagulation [ [3] Tektonidou M.G. Andreoli L. Limper M. Amoura Z. Cervera R. Costedoat-Chalumeau N. et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of antiphospholipid syndrome in adults. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 2019 Oct; 78: 1296-1304 Crossref PubMed Scopus (452) Google Scholar ].