Why in news?

• The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has created a new scoring system to measure how active and serious antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is in a person.
• It looks at different symptoms and lab test results to give a clear number that shows whether the disease is mild, moderate, or severe at a given time.
• Doctors can use this number to understand how the disease is changing, whether treatments are working, and what kind of care a patient might need.

About antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)

• APS involves the immune system mistakenly producing antibodies that attack tissues in the body, leading to abnormal blood clot formation in arteries and veins and various organs.
• It also affects pregnancy, leading to miscarriages, stillbirths, and other pregnancy morbidities.​
• The causes involves autoimmune mechanisms where antiphospholipid antibodies attack phospholipid-binding proteins.​
• There is currently no cure, but treatments focus on reducing clotting risk and pregnancy loss.
• Current treatments for Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) mainly include medicines called anticoagulants or blood thinners, such as heparin and warfarin. 
• In addition, some patients are given antimalarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine, which can help protect blood vessels and prevent problems with pregnancy related to APS. 

Download Pdf