Which patients with antiphospholipid antibody should be treated and how?
Lockshin, M.D.
Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America 19(1): 235-247
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0889-857X PMID: 8356257 Document Number: 405855
The tests for antiphospholipid antibody are relatively crude but usable. Asymptomatic persons with incidentally discovered antiphospholipid antibody do not need treatment. Those with symptoms are best treated with anticoagulation, but data specifically supporting aspirin, heparin, or warfarin or combinations thereof remain to be generated. High-dose corticosteroid therapy has at best equivocal efficacy and much toxicity and should be used only for lupus activity and not for phenomena of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. The roles of low-dose corticosteroid therapy, immunosuppressive agents, and other treatments are unknown.