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Purpose of the Review: Thrombotic risk assessment in antiphospholipid positive (aPL +) subjects is a major challenge, and the study of in vitro thrombin generation (thrombin generation assays (TGA)) could provide useful information. Activated protein C (APC) sensitivity is involved in thrombotic events in antiphospholipid syndrome patients. We summarized methods used to assess APC sensitivity with TGA and evaluated the prognostic role of APC resistance through literature search., Recent Findings: APC resistance induced by aPL is a complex pathway. Several cross-sectional studies assessed APC sensitivity to understand thrombotic event mechanisms in aPL + subjects. Only one prospective cohort had investigated the prognostic impact of APC resistance in aPL + subjects, with a positive and significant correlation between APC sensitivity and the risk of thrombosis during the follow up (hazard ratio, 6.07 [95% CI, 1.69-21.87]). APC resistance assessed with TGA could be associated with thrombotic events in aPL + subjects., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose of Review: The efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is discussed. Results from randomized controlled trials are available. It has been stated that a history of arterial thrombosis and triple positivity was associated with a higher risk of thrombosis in APS patients treated with DOACs. However, their efficacy in non-high-risk APS patients with isolated venous manifestations is unsolved. Therefore, we performed a sub-group analysis of a previously published meta-analysis after the exclusion of patients with triple positivity and those with history of arterial or small vessel thrombosis., Recent Findings: We identified 290 APS patients with previous isolated venous event treated with DOACs; among them, 25 (8.6%) patients experienced a recurrent thrombosis in comparison to 16% in the original cohort. We found that the rate of recurrent thrombosis is lower in APS patients with isolated venous manifestations than in overall APS patients including high-risk patients. Research about DOAC use in non-high-risk APS patients needs to be continued.

Purpose of Review: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can be seen as a burden, with consequences on patients' daily life. Health has traditionally been measured using measures of morbidity or mortality. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a concept that includes quality of life through physical, mental, and social domains. As in other autoimmune diseases, HRQoL has been investigated in patients with APS. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the current knowledge of the assessment of HRQoL in APS., Recent Findings: APS patients have an impaired HRQoL compared with the general population. The presence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in APS patients is associated with a worse HRQoL than in patients without SLE. Several determinants of HRQoL impairment in APS have been identified: age, gender, history of arterial thrombosis, organ damage, lack of social support and treatments. This review highlights the negative impact of thrombosis on APS patients' HRQoL that should not be neglected. Besides, there is a need for a better strategy of communication and information, in order to improve HRQoL in APS.

Purpose of Review: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is characterized primarily by thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. Chronic vascular lesions can also occur. While the underlying mechanisms of these vascular lesions are not entirely known, there have been multiple theories describing the potential process of vasculopathy in APS and the various clinical manifestations associated with it., Recent Findings: Recently, it has been demonstrated that endothelial proliferation in kidneys can be explained by the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC) pathway by antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). These data support the existence of an APS-related vasculopathy in different locations which can explain-in part-the different manifestations of APS. This review focuses on the various manifestations of APS as a result of APS-related vasculopathy, as well as pathophysiology, current screening, and treatment options for clinicians to be aware of.

Background: The cornerstone of thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients' management is to prevent recurrent thrombosis by long-term anticoagulation., Purpose of Review: The purpose of the review is to summarize available literature on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) use in APS patients through a systematic review and to determine factors associated with thrombosis recurrence., Recent Findings: The recent RAPS trial demonstrated that APS patients treated with rivaroxaban had a significant twofold-increased thrombin potential, suggesting a higher thrombotic risk, in comparison with warfarin users. Furthermore, several reports of APS patients treated with DOACs have raised safety issues. Our systematic review identified 122 published APS patients treated with DOACs; among them, 19 experienced a recurrent thrombosis while on DOACs. Of note, triple positivity (positivity of all three laboratory criteria for APS) was associated with a 3.5-fold increased risk for recurrent thrombosis. In conclusion, DOACs should be used with caution in APS patients and randomized control trials with clinical primary endpoints assessing clinical efficacy and safety are awaited to establish whether the prescription of DOACs could be a safe alternative to warfarin.

Antiphospholipid antibody-positive patients can develop bleeding due to capillaritis, microthrombosis, antiprothrombin antibodies, thrombocytopenia, and/or excessive antithrombotic therapy. Clinical characteristics of patients, e.g., renal impairment, elderly, or concomitant medications, are closely related to the risk of bleeding. The management of bleeding in antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-positive patients is challenging due to the baseline increased risk of thrombosis. If anticoagulation is stopped, it should be restarted as soon as possible once the acute bleeding is controlled; the continuation of anticoagulation despite active bleeding may be required in selected cases. High-dose corticosteroid is the mainstay treatment for diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, lupus anticoagulant-hypoprothrombinemia syndrome, and severe thrombocytopenia; immunosuppressive drugs are also required to improve the long-term outcomes. Hydrocortisone is critical in adrenal hemorrhage patients due to concomitant adrenal insufficiency; despite bleeding, anticoagulation should be maintained as much as possible. Plasma exchange should be considered in catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome patients with concurrent bleeding. This article will review the causes of bleeding in aPL-positive patients as well as the management strategies.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare but life-threatening condition in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients with or without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The definition of PH is based on hemodynamic parameters estimated by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and confirmed by right heart catheterization (RHC). New evidence suggests that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in SLE patients increase the risk of PH; however, studies yield conflicting results. Hypotheses regarding the impact of aPL on PH include large vessel and microvascular thrombosis, and endothelial remodeling. Natural history of PH is progressive worsening mainly due to recurrent pulmonary embolism. The management in APS patients includes anticoagulation; patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy need to be closely monitored because of an increased risk of thrombotic complications.

Heart valve disease (HVD) is the most frequent cardiac manifestation in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), with prevalence of 30 %. The definition is based on the presence of thickening or vegetation of the valves (mainly mitral and aortic) as described by Libman and Sacks for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Transthoracic and/or transoesophageal echocardiography (TTE and TEE, respectively) enable early and accurate diagnosis and help avoid misdiagnosis as rheumatic valve disease. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in SLE patients is associated with a threefold greater risk of HVD, confirming the crucial importance of these antibodies in the pathogenic process, leading to thrombotic manifestations on valves because of hypercoagulability. Natural history is characterized by worsening of HVD over time with an increased risk for stroke. APS patients undergoing valve-replacement surgery are at high risk of thrombotic and bleeding complications. Thus aPL-associated HVD has affects clinical management of APS patients.