The antiphospholipid syndrome: an update.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder defined by the association between antiphospholipid antibodies (i.e., lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies) and venous or arterial thrombosis or obstetric complications. In spite of the recent advances, many aspects of this disease remain unclear. Although the antigenic targets of this heterogeneous group of autoantibodies have been determined, being negatively charged phospholipids-binding proteins, their precise pathogenic mechanism is still being determined. The most important advances in the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this condition are discussed in this review.