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Differential Diagnosis

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Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

Part of the book series: Rare Diseases of the Immune System ((RDIS))

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Abstract

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a systemic, acquired, immune-mediated systemic disease characterized by episodes of thrombosis (venous, arterial, or of the microcirculation) and/or pregnancy morbidities, associated with the persistent presence of circulating autoantibodies directed to molecular complexes consisting of phospholipids and proteins (confirmed at least in two occasions 12 weeks apart). APS should always be considered as a potential diagnosis for young patients presenting with a history of thrombotic events, especially when they occur without any obvious external trigger or any inherited thrombophilic mutation (even if 2006 criteria do not exclude APS patients with other inherited or acquired pro-thrombotic conditions) or for women with recurrent pregnancy losses or later fetal deaths. Many other disorders are able to mimic APS, so a broad range of alternative diagnoses should be investigated and ruled out during clinical workup.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SOD Patologia Medica, Center for Autoimmune Systemic Diseases – Behçet Center and Lupus Clinic – AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy

    Domenico Prisco

  2. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, V.le L.go G. Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy

    Domenico Prisco, Giacomo Emmi, Elena Silvestri, Lucia Ciucciarelli, Elena Niccolai, Mario Milco D’Elios & Danilo Squatrito

  3. SOD Patologia Medica, Center for Autoimmune Systemic Diseases – Behçet Center and Lupus Clinic – AOU Careggi, AOU Careggi Hospital, V.le L.go G. Brambilla 3, Florence, 50134, Italy

    Lorenzo Emmi

Authors
  1. Domenico Prisco
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  2. Giacomo Emmi
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  3. Elena Silvestri
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  4. Lucia Ciucciarelli
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  5. Elena Niccolai
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  6. Mario Milco D’Elios
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  7. Danilo Squatrito
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  8. Lorenzo Emmi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Domenico Prisco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Gaetano Pini Institute, Milan, Milano, Italy

    Pier Luigi Meroni

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Prisco, D. et al. (2015). Differential Diagnosis. In: Meroni, P. (eds) Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Rare Diseases of the Immune System. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11044-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11044-8_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-11043-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-11044-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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