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Antiphospholipid syndrome: a cause of peripheral neuropathy?

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) or antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome is an autoimmune systemic disorder, associated with recurrent arterial and venous thrombosis and obstetric complications, in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Either anti-cardiolipin, anti-[beta]2glicoprotein I (anti-[beta]2GpI) antibodies or the presence of the lupus anticoagulant phenomenon can be related to its pathogenesis. The clinical manifestations include skin disease, cardiac, pulmonary, renal and hematologic features, and neurologic involvement. A large number of neurologic manifestations has been described in association with APS. The most common and serious complication is stroke. Case reports and case series have pointed out the relationship between peripheral neuropathy syndromes, particularly Guillain-Barré, and APS. Studies on nerve conduction in APS are lacking. Their impact in the next classification of APS will depend on the development of appropriated clinical-epidemiologic studies.

antiphospholipid syndrome; peripheral neuropathy; nerve conduction studies


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