I am being tested for antiphospholipid syndrome. What will the treatment be?

Question

Hi doctor,

Following a DVT, my hematologist sent me for a blood test and it needs to be repeated again. According to the test request form, the request is 'antiphospholipid ab blood' and clinical details are 'previous VTEs, lupus ab positive last year'.

I am keen to understand the impact of a second test. If it is positive, what condition would I have and what would the typical treatment be? If it is negative, then am I really safe to stop any treatment? Could the 'positive' condition that arose that may have caused my DVT arise again?

Appreciate your advice.

Take care. Consult a physician for examination.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune condition. The condition can affect a single organ or multiple organ systems.

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in SLE is multifactorial. The most common cause is the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. However, some patients who are negative for antiphospholipid antibodies, also present with DVT.

Anticoagulant therapy is usually not given on a long-term basis.

If you have antiphospholipid antibodies as per the test results, you need to be worked up for SLE.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand that you are not being tested for SLE. I provided the information so that you have an idea about the disease.

I said that if you are testing positive for antiphospholipid antibodies, you should get SLE ruled out as APS can be either primary or secondary to SLE or other autoimmune disorder.

For diagnosis, it is mandatory that antiphospholipid antibodies are detected in your blood, on two separate occasions, at least 12 weeks apart. This is the reason your hematologist has asked for the second test for antiphospholipid antibodies. If you test positive on the second occasion for antiphospholipid antibodies, you will be diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome. I suggest that in such a case it would be prudent to get tested for SLE or other autoimmune disorders so that if the APS is due to that condition, you can receive appropriate treatment for the autoimmune disorder.

Answer 3

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

In case you are diagnosed with APS, the treatment is dependent on the individual presentation of the patient. Anticoagulant therapy with heparin is the standard treatment in DVT cases.

Answer 4

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Eliquis (Apixaban) is a drug that inhibits binding of platelets and prevents clotting, thereby decreasing the risk of DVT in patients who have a predisposition to DVT. Bleeding can be a side effect.

Regarding SLE, it is an autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple organs. Initially, a single organ might be affected but with increased duration, it can affect multiple organs. So, it is actually a disadvantage to have SLE.

If left untreated, it can progress at a faster rate.