Accelerated atherosclerosis in antiphospholipid syndrome and in patients having antiphospholipid antibodies

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are the serologic marker of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) which is characterized by pro-coagulant activity and by enhanced atherosclerosis (AS). These autoantibodies which exert a pro-coagulant activity are probably also pro-atherogenic as enhanced AS is the result of immunization of mice with aPL in animal models. Human studies also emphasize an association between elevated levels of aPL and either enhanced AS or AS-related manifestations. If these aPL really exert a pro-atherogenic activity, then preventive measures for cardiovascular diseases should be taken in APS patients and in other patients found to have these autoantibodies.