Lupus anticoagulants (LAs) are antibodies produced by your immune system. While most antibodies target disease, LAs target healthy cells and cell proteins.
They attack phospholipids, which are needed for cell membranes. LAs are linked to an immune system disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome.
What are the lupus anticoagulant symptoms?
Blood clots can be exacerbated by LAs. Antibodies, on the other hand, can be present without causing a clot.
Symptoms of a blood clot in one of your arms or legs may include:
Edema in your arm or leg
Breathing difficulties due to arm or leg redness or discoloration
Discomfort or numbness in your arm or leg
A blood clot in your heart or lungs may result in:
Chest discomfort
Sweating excessively, breathing difficulties
Dizziness, fatigue, or both
Blood clots in the stomach or kidneys can cause:
Stomach ache
Thigh ache
Fever, nausea, diarrhea, or bloody stools
If blood clots are not treated promptly, they can be fatal.
Miscarriages
Small blood clots caused by LAs can complicate and lead to miscarriage. Multiple miscarriages, especially after the first trimester, may indicate LAs.
Conditions that are related
Approximately half of those who have the autoimmune disease lupus also have LAs.
How do I go about getting tested for lupus anticoagulants?
If you have unexplained blood clots or have had multiple miscarriages, your doctor may order LA testing.
There is no single test that can definitively diagnose LAs. Several blood tests are required to determine whether or not LAs are present in your bloodstream. Repeat testing is also required to confirm their presence over time. This is due to the fact that these antibodies can appear during infections but disappear once the infection is resolved.
Among the possible tests are:
PTT examination
The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test determines how long your blood takes to clot. It can also tell you if you have anticoagulant antibodies in your blood. It will not, however, reveal whether or not you have LAs.
If your test results show that you have anticoagulant antibodies, you will need to be retested. Retesting is usually done in about 12 weeks.
Additional blood tests
If your PTT test reveals the presence of anticoagulant antibodies, your doctor may order additional blood tests to rule out other medical conditions. These tests may include:
Anticardiolipin antibody screening
Dilute kaolin clotting time coagulation factor assays Russell viper venom analysis (DRVVT)
PTT beta-2 glycoprotein 1 antibody test sensitive to LA
All of these blood tests pose little risk. When the needle pierces your skin, you may feel a brief sting. It may also feel a little sore afterwards. As with any blood test, there is a slight risk of infection or bleeding.
How do lupus anticoagulants work?
Not everyone who is diagnosed with LAs requires treatment. If you have no symptoms and have never had blood clots, your doctor may recommend no treatment for the time being as long as you are feeling well.
Treatment plans will differ from one person to the next.
LA medical treatments include:
Steroids, such as prednisone and cortisol, can prevent your immune system from producing LA antibodies.
Exchange of plasma
Plasma exchange is a procedure that separates your blood plasma (which contains the LAs) from your other blood cells using a machine. The plasma containing the LAs is replaced with plasma or a plasma substitute free of antibodies. This procedure is also known as plasmapheresis.
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