Title:Heart Valve Lesions In The Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Author(s): Ricard Cervera and Gerard Espinosa
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Antiphospholipid antibodies, anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, systemic lupus erythematosus.
Abstract: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid
antibodies (aPL), hypercoagulability leading to vascular thrombosis, and pregnancy morbidity. Since its recognition,
a great number of cardiac manifestations have been reported in association with these antibodies, but heart valve abnormalities
are the most common cardiac manifestations of the syndrome. They include valve thickness >3 mm, localized
thickening involving the leaflet’s proximal or middle portion, and/or irregular nodules on the atrial face of the edge of the
mitral valve, and/or the vascular face of the aortic valve. A consensus committee recommended anticoagulation in symptomatic
valvular disease. Asymptomatic patients should be prophylactically treated with aspirin.
