Women are more likely than men to be affected by Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Some estimates say that 75% to 90% of those affected are women. For example, it has been estimated by some doctors that one third of all of young strokes (defined as under the age of 50) are due to Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. In obstetrics it is estimated by some doctors that up to 25% of all women with 2 or more spontaneous miscarriages have Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome.

The catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome is a very rare complication encountered in a subset of patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. This rare syndrome is characterized by the development of multiple blood clots that block small blood vessels in several organs in the body. The organs most commonly affected by these small blood clots include the heart, lungs, nervous system, and kidneys.

We have asked our Medical Advisory team this question over and over again, and none of them have the answer. We will continue to search for the answer of this one! Back to top.

There are two forms of Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. There is Primary Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome meaning it is a stand alone disease. There is also Secondary Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Many of those patients also have Lupus. Back to top.

Antiphospholipid antibodies may be detected in individuals who are completely asymptomatic, but, in some patients, these antibodies may be associated with a rapidly progressive disorder that can be fatal. In addition, the blood clots that can be seen with these antibodies can be fatal, depending on how large they are or which blood vessels are affected. Back to top.

APS is not hereditary in the sense in which we usually use that word--that is, the sense that we learned about in biology classes, where the precise "odds" of a trait being passed along to children can be calculated. Diseases or conditions with that sort of direct heredity are typically tied to one or more identified genes. No cause for APS has yet been singled out.

For asymptomatic individuals who have antiphospholipid antibodies, some doctors recommend aspirin therapy, but, generally, no major lifestyle changes are necessary. For patients who have the antiphospholipid syndrome and have had a blood clot, treatment consists of anticoagulant therapy ("blood thinners"). Anticoagulant therapy with warfarin (most commonly, Coumadin? ) does require attention to one's diet (for a stable intake of vitamin K) and regular blood checks to monitor the medicine.

In theory, diagnosis is easy. The doctor simply needs to think of the possibility of Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. However, the features can seem so unconnected (e.g.memory loss, previous DVT, headaches, previous miscarriage and 'multiple sclerosis') that the diagnosis may not come to mind. Back to top.

By definition, all patients with antiphospholipid syndrome have some type of blood clot, affecting either the arteries or the veins, or recurrent miscarriages or certain other complications during pregnancy. Other problems that may be seen in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome may include a particular type of rash (livido reticularis), low platelet counts ('thrombocytopenia'), heart valve problems, certain fingernail changes, or other signs or symptoms.

The frequency is unknown but it appears to be a common cause of sudden and unexplained death in children and young adults. It is certainly much more common than previously thought. It may be as frequent as 1 in 5000 to 7000. This means, one of 5000 to 7000 newborns have the disease. The Jervell, Lange-Nielsen form is rare, but the Romano-Ward variant is being recognized with increasing frequency. In the USA, the presence of long QT syndrome is estimated to affect about 50.

TS was once thought to be a rare disease. However studies of ours in a Los Angeles school district indicate 1 in 100 school boys had TS. It is less common in girls. Subsequent studies in New York and England suggest an ever higher incidence. This makes it one of the commonest genetic disease affecting children. Because of the wide range of associated problems, TS is an important factor in many children with school and behavioral problems.

Down's Syndrome is in fact the most common of all learning disabilities approaching around 30% of all severe learning disability and featuring in 1 in 1000 births.

Frankly, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is extremely common. Anyone can be affected with it, but only a small percentage of people with IBS are treating the disorder.

Phospholipids are found in the blood and help keep the blood flowing without too much clotting or bleeding. Antibodies against phospholipid (antiphospholipid antibodies) mess up the normal balance between clotting and bleeding. The antibodies can increase a person's chance of having a blood clot. Back to top.

Antibodies are proteins that are produced by a human or animal host in response to a foreign substance known as an antigen. The antibody attaches to the antigen and aids the host in removing the infectious agent.

Reye syndrome is rare. Since 1994, two or fewer cases per year are reported in the U.S. There has been a dramatic decline of cases since the 1980s, when health experts began educating parents about the use of aspirin and aspirin-containing products for the treatment of chickenpox and other flu-like illnesses. Reye syndrome cases occur throughout the year, but are more frequent when viral diseases are epidemic, such as the winter months, or following an outbreak of chickenpox or influenza.

antibody screen is a test used in blood banking to determine whether or not a person has antibodies (proteins) that react with red blood cell antigens (types), other than those for A and B, of donor blood. We are specifically interested in clinically significant antibodies, meaning those that might cause a serious ("hemolytic") reaction after transfusion of blood containing the corresponding antigen.

What distinguishes Asperger's Syndrome from autism is the severity of the symptoms and the absence of language delays. Children with Asperger's may be only mildly affected and frequently have good language and cognitive skills. To the untrained observer, a child with Asperger's may seem just like a normal child behaving differently. They may be socially awkward, not understanding of conventional social rules, or show a lack of empathy.