Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in pediatric patients.

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is characterized by the association between recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis and the presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies. Antiphospholipid antibody-related thrombosis seems to constitute a significant proportion of childhood thromboses. About one third of children suffering a thrombotic event have circulating antiphospholipid antibodies, and more than two thirds of children with idiopathic cerebral ischemia meet the criteria for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Because the other risk factors for thrombosis commonly found in adults have no impact on the pediatric patient, the risk for thrombosis and thrombotic recurrences and the optimal anticoagulation therapy may differ from adults.