MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Lupus anticoagulants

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Lupus anticoagulants

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face

Blood clots

Definition Return to top

Lupus anticoagulants are antibodies against phospholipids (a group of substances in cell membranes) which inhibit blood clotting in a test tube, but may be associated with a higher risk of clotting in people who have them in their blood.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Lupus anticoagulants are found in people with auto-immune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) and also in those taking certain medications, such as phenothiazines.

Some people with these antibodies have no clear, predisposing factor. In some cases, the condition is associated with an increased risk of blood clots and it may be the cause of recurrent miscarriages.

Symptoms Return to top

Blood clots in veins
Blood clots in arteries
Recurrent miscarriages

The condition can also occur with no symptoms.

Signs and tests Return to top

Elevated PTT
Abnormal tissue thromboplastin inhibition test
Prolonged dilute Russell viper venom time

Treatment Return to top

No treatment is required in the absence of symptoms. If clots occur, patients should be anticoagulated with heparin followed by warfarin. Higher than usual doses of warfarin may be required. Steroids are sometimes effective in decreasing the level of antibody, but it is not clear whether this decreases clotting risk.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The outcome is usually good with appropriate therapy. Some patients have difficult to control clots, with recurrent symptoms.

Complications Return to top

Stroke
Heart attack
Blood clot in lungs (pulmonary embolism)

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if you notice symptoms of clot, such as swelling or redness in the leg; shortness of breath; or pain, numbness and pallor in an extremity.

Prevention Return to top

Awareness of risk factors may allow early diagnosis. Prevention may not be possible.

Update Date: 6/5/2003

Updated by: Ezra E. W. Cohen, M.D., Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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