Article Text
Review
Ethnic and geographical variation in antiphospholipid (Hughes) syndrome
Abstract
Investigation of the clinical epidemiology of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is in its early stages. During the past 20 years, studies of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and APS have been made in many countries and ethno-geographical groups. aPL appear to occur in all populations studied, with some variations noted in their frequency and in the clinical complications. Environmental and genetic factors contribute to ethnic variation and susceptibility to APS and thus interethnic differences in disease patterns may be due to environmental or genetic factors, or both.
- aCL, anticardiolipin antibodies
- aPL, antiphospholipid antibodies
- APS, antiphospholipid syndrome
- aPT, anti-prothrombin antibodies
- β2GPI, β2-glycoprotein I
- LA, lupus anticoagulant
- PT, prothrombin
- SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus
- anticardiolipin antibodies
- antiphospholipid antibodies
- antiphospholipid syndrome
- HLA
- lupus anticoagulant