Hughes syndrome
Treatment for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) aims to reduce your risk of developing more blood clots.
As part of your treatment you'll be prescribed Anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin , or an antiplatelet medication such as low-dose aspirin .
These work by interrupting the process of blood clot formation. This means blood clots are less likely to form when they're not needed.
Most people with APS need to take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication daily for the rest of their life.
If blood tests show you have abnormal antiphospholipid antibodies, but you don't have a history of blood clots, low-dose aspirin tablets are usually recommended. If you can't take aspirin, you may be prescribed an alternative antiplatelet tablet called clopidogrel .
Warfarin tablets are usually recommended if you have APS and a history of blood clots, such as previously having deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a stroke . However, this needs to be changed if you become pregnant or are planning a pregnancy (see below). Tell your doctor if this is the case.
If you develop a blood clot or your symptoms suddenly become severe, injections of an anticoagulant called heparin may be needed. These injections may be given in hospital, or you may be trained to give them yourself.
Side effects of these medications are uncommon and generally mild, such as indigestion or feeling sick (nausea).
However, there's a risk that the disruption to the blood's ability to clot can cause excessive bleeding (a haemorrhage).
Symptoms of excessive bleeding can include:
Contact your GP immediately if you have any of these symptoms while taking an anticoagulant. If this isn't possible, call your local out-of-hours service or NHS 111 .
Women diagnosed with APS are strongly advised to plan for any future pregnancy. This is because treatment to improve the outcome of a pregnancy is most effective when it begins as soon as possible after an attempt to conceive. Some medications used to treat APS can also harm an unborn baby.
If you don't plan your pregnancy, it may be several weeks before you realise you're pregnant. This may increase the risk of treatment to safeguard the pregnancy being unsuccessful.
Treatment during pregnancy involves taking daily doses of aspirin or heparin, or a combination of both. This depends on whether you have a history of blood clots and previous complications during pregnancy. Warfarin isn't recommended during pregnancy because it carries a small risk of causing birth defects.
Treatment with aspirin and/or heparin is usually started at the beginning of the pregnancy and may continue for one to six weeks after you have given birth.
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also known as Hughes syndrome, is a disorder of the immune system that causes an increased risk of blood clots.
In antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the immune system produces abnormal antibodies which make the blood stickier than normal.
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is caused by the bodys immune system producing abnormal antibodies called antiphospholipid antibodies.
It is very important that an accurate diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is made because the blood clots that occur as a result of APS can have serious consequences.
Treatment for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) aims to reduce your risk of developing more blood clots.
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare but very serious complication of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).