Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome And Pregnancy

Question: What is antiphospholipid antibody syndrome? does anyone have this? How did it affect your pregnancy?

Answer: The antiphospholipid syndrome is a disorder of the immune system that is characterized by excessive clotting of blood and/or certain complications of pregnancy (premature miscarriages, unexplained fetal death, or premature birth) and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (cardiolipin or lupus anticoagulant antibodies) in the blood. Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome have developed abnormal symptoms while having antiphospholipid antibodies that are detectable with blood testing.

Question: I have been diagnosed with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome & my cousin was diagnoised with MTHFR...? Both are blood clotting disorders that affect pregnancy and are treated in similar ways. While I reserched this I found that the two are actually different types of the same thing. The sites that describe MTHFR are so technical that they may as well have been in a different language. The cause of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in unknown while MTHFR is genitic. Could anyone explain this in a simplier way.

Answer: Okay, antiphospholipid syndrome means you have an antibody to "phospholipids" in your own body. Meaning it is an autoimmune disease - your body is attacking itself. Antibodies are formed when your immune system finds something in your body that it thinks is foreign and it attacks it and creates antibodies. Normally this process is a good thing because when viruses and bacteria gain entry into your body your immune system goes to work by killing the invading germ and makes a memory of it (antibody). So if you come into contact again with something that you were infected with before then you won't get sick the second time because the antibody does its job and eliminates the threat. In people that have auto-immune diseases the immune system fails to identify parts of the body as self and makes antibodies to components in your body. Methylene-Tetra-Hydro-Folate-Reductase - it is gene mutation that if you get two copies for the gene, one from each parent you could have increased levels of homocysteine. If you only get one copy of the mutated gene then you are likely okay. Treatment for MTHRF is only necessary if you actually have increased levels of Homocysteine. Increased levels of Homocysteine can cause: abnormal clotting of the blood which would put you at increased risk for blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, heart disease and anything to do with your blood vessels. Check out this website about Homocysteine: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/… I hope I helped some.

Question: Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS)? I have been diagnosed with APS, can anyone out there give me some feedback on how their pregnancy was with this blood disorder? I'm scared, but hopefull that everything will turn out fine. The Dr has me on baby aspirin and once I'm 6 weeks pregnant, I will give mysefl Heparin injections.

Answer: Sorry, I have never heard of that blood disorder. I can tell you to stay hopeful, as long as you are under doctor's care and you follow his directions you should be fine. I will put you and your baby in my prayers. I am sorry you have to deal with the fears of a blood disorder, but try to relax and enjoy the pregnancy and the idea that you are having a baby. Keep positive and email me anytime from my profile. Congrats on being pregnant! Hopefully I can share the news of a pregnancy someday!

Question: 3x m/c and antiphospholipid antibodies, antibodies that attak the pregnancy?and stories please..? i suffer from antiphospholipid syndrome and would like to hear some stories from others...... i hav lost 3 pregnancys so far and am now 6 weeks preg again and so scared i will loose this one 2...... thanx

Answer: i had that. i lost a baby at 40 weeks. the next 3 pregnancies were closely monitored and i was on baby aspirin after 14 weeks. good luck.

Question: is there a difference between Lovenox and Heparin? I have in previous pregnancy been given Lovonox, due to insurance. I was diagnosed with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and have had unsuccessful pregnancies. I wondered if I did the Heparin instead of the lovenox if there would be any difference?

Answer: There is a difference. For one heparin is from pig source, it works slightly differently. My father has a blood clot (latest of several) and he can't take heparin because he doesn't tolerate it. So I think your only shot is to check with your Dr. and see if heparin is an option. I certainly would be concerned about bleeding at time of delivery with heparin but I am not an OB specialist so have no first hand advice.