Antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy. Obstetric concerns and treatment.

To be sure, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is a protean disease with many manifestations, some of which are exacerbated during pregnancy, and some of which even lead to its initial diagnosis during pregnancy. Although the best treatment during pregnancy is uncertain at this point, and some of the treatments are even experimental, there does seem to be a benefit in at least identifying and probably treating those with risk factors. If treatment is not instituted with heparin, aspirin, or other medical management, at least monitoring for the known superimposed disease states, such as intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia, and fetal loss, should be judicious, with close antenatal surveillance.