Diagnosis

Physicians use a combination of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests to diagnose APS. Common blood tests include several antibody tests and lupus anticoagulant tests.

  • Clinical symptoms often include:
  • Blood clots in veins, particularly deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
  • Blood clots that go to the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
  • Blood clots in arteries
  • Miscarriages
  • Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, fetal growth retardation, premature delivery
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes
  • Brief loss of vision
  • Decreased levels of platelets
  • Heart valve problems
  • Persistent or transient blotchy, lacy bluish rash
  • Skin ulcers, most commonly on the legs or feet

Other features that may be associated with antiphospholipid antibodies and help in diagnosis include (APS Foundation of America, Inc.):

  • Problems with thinking clearly (loss of concentration, difficulty with reading comprehension and performing calculations, memory loss)
  • Neurological problems similar to multiple sclerosis.
  • Migraine headaches, sometimes with visual disturbances
  • Other neurological symptoms including episodes of partial or total vision loss, dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance, seizures, and other abnormal movements