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The International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies is held every three years to discuss the recent advances and future directions in Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). This volume collects the scientific highlights and new findings about APS that were generated from the most recent 13th Congress, held in Galveston, Texas in 2010. Chapters were written by an internationally-distinguished group of scientists from the point-of-view of multiple specialty areas. Each chapter was written in a uniform and systematic basis to present the latest evidence-based research, including the basic science of APS, task force reports from the Congress on controversial aspects of APS, and future directions of APS research. This book will appeal to all clinicians involved in the treatment and management of APS patients, to residents in a variety of medical subspecialties, and to research scientists interested in a better understanding of this complex and evolving disease.

The antiphospholipid syndrome (Hughes syndrome) is now over a quarter of a century old. Although most of the major clinical features were described in the original papers between 1983 and 1985, the ensuing 25 years have seen a filling out of the clinical detail and recognition that the syndrome is of major medical importance. More significantly, much has been learnt of the prevalence and epidemiology of the syndrome as well as the biology of the thrombotic process so central to the condition. Sadly, all that lags behind is treatment, the choice of drugs still very limited. The syndrome now embraces all disciplines. It is now regarded as the commonest treatable cause of recurrent pregnancy loss, and has changed the face of obstetrics. It has become a major chapter in the field of neurology, being an important cause of stroke, migraine, seizures, and memory loss. In cardiology, it is at last becoming recognized as an important cause of young heart attacks, as well as providing leads in the study of accelerated atheroma. And so the list goes on – idiopathic bone fracture, abdo- nal angina, renal vascular hypertension, leg ulcers… This book, produced by clinical leaders in the field, brings together the many strands of another “great mimic”.

The second edition of Hughes Syndrome: Antiphospholipid Syndrome addresses the complete range of conditions produced by this common disorder which is also known as APS or'sticky blood'syndrome. APS is one of the main causes of strokes (40%), leg deep vein thrombosis, and recurrent miscarriages in women. It is an important risk factor for thrombosis in women taking the oral contraceptive pill. The effects of this syndrome were found initially in thrombosis, obstetrics (APS is the most common treatable cause of recurrent pregnancy loss) and neurology. Its impact is now felt in a diverse range of conditions. These include surgery (graft rejection), orthopedics (avascular necrosis, DVT), psychiatry (memory loss), cardiology (pulmonary hypertension, valvular disease, angina), ENT (vertigo), pediatrics (young strokes, epilepsy) to name but a few. This new and updated text reflects the growth in published literature on APS and the widening ramifications of the disease. APS is a multi-specialty disease and is of increasing interest to obstetricians, rheumatologists, hematologists, dermatologists, neurologists and immunologists.