Antiphospholipid syndrome in women

A condition in which antibodies are produced in the human body that attack phospholipids( constituents of cell membranes) is an antiphospholipid syndrome. Antiphospholipid syndrome in women is observed more often than in men. This syndrome in women appears before the age of 50 years.

All about the symptoms of this disease

Antiphospholipid syndrome is present in such diseases as scleroderma, lupus, cancer, infectious chronic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Antibodies are attached to the platelet walls of blood vessels. Antibodies participate in the blood clotting reaction, promoting the formation of blood clots. In women, antiphospholipid syndrome can cause miscarriage or infertility.

In women, the symptoms of this syndrome may vary. They depend on many factors, for example, on the rate of closure of the lumen of the lumen of the vessel, the magnitude of the vessels affected by this process, from the variety of the vessel( vein or artery).And also from the location of the vessel( lungs, liver, heart, brain).

If in small vessels there is a thrombosis, then the organ suffers insignificantly. Blockage of the main trunk of the coronary artery can lead to myocardial infarction. The signs of thrombosis grow gradually, while the functioning of the organ is slow. The entire process mimics a chronic disease, for example, cirrhosis or Alzheimer's disease. In the event that the lumen of the vessel closes by a severed thrombus, cardinal rapid disturbances occur in the functions of the organ. For example, if this process occurs in the pulmonary artery, then choking occurs, which can lead to a fatal outcome.

Characteristic signs of antiphospholipid syndrome in women

A variety of diseases can take this syndrome. Typical features are: a thin vascular network, otherwise a net liver. This grid is similar to lace and is seen under the skin( at lower temperatures it is more discernible).And also chronic ulcers on the lower leg, which poorly heal, peripheral gangrene. Women often have headaches, migraines, strokes. When the thrombosis seizes the vessels of the liver, the organ increases, and in the abdominal cavity fluid accumulation is observed, while the level of hepatic enzymes increases in the blood. When the kidneys are affected, the woman experiences hypertension. Women who suffer from this syndrome are not often able to tolerate a child, but quite often face miscarriages. This is because placental thrombosis leads to early childbirth or fetal death.

In what cases is the diagnosis of this syndrome necessary?

Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome is necessary for women who have systemic lupus erythematosus, when vascular thrombosis develops to 40 years, if an undiagnosed disease, a decrease in platelets in the bloodstream occurs. Diagnosis is necessary if a person has a thrombosis of blood vessels, which is unusual for this process, for example, vessels that supply the intestine. The overlap of these vessels is the cause of the appearance of the "abdominal toad."At the same time, abdominal pains that occur after eating are felt. And also when the woman had two miscarriages, and the doctors can not determine the cause.

The treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome is performed by a rheumatologist. In the case when this syndrome occurs in women suffering from an autoimmune disease( for example, red systemic lupus erythematosus), it is stopped. When the treatment of the underlying disease successfully passes and the number of antibodies to phospholipids decreases, the risk of vascular thrombosis decreases. The basic therapy that is prescribed by the doctor is very important. Based on the causes of the antiphospholipid syndrome, this or that treatment is prescribed.

When a woman has this syndrome, then with pregnancy should be delayed. It must be postponed until the antibody titres come back to normal. The sooner you start treatment and follow all the prescription of a specialist, the sooner you get rid of an anophospholipid syndrome.