What does it mean to have lupus anticoagulant?

What does it mean to have lupus anticoagulant?

Lupus anticoagulant (LA) is an antiphospholipid antibody found in many people with lupus. LA increases your blood’s ability to clot. Therefore, if you have this antibody, you have a greater risk of experiencing a blood clot.

What causes lupus anticoagulant disorder?

Antibodies normally protect the body against invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. Antiphospholipid syndrome can be caused by an underlying condition, such as an autoimmune disorder, infection or certain medications. You also can develop the syndrome without an underlying cause.

Is lupus anticoagulant life threatening?

Without treatment, people with APS will have repeat clotting. Most of the time, outcome is good with proper treatment, which includes long-term anticoagulation therapy. Some people may have blood clots that are hard to control in spite of treatments. This can lead to CAPS, which can be life-threatening.

How long can you live with lupus anticoagulant?

The cumulative relative survival was 95.0% (95% CI, 88.5-98.8) after 5 years and 87.7% (95% CI, 76.3-95.6) after 10 years. We conclude that occurrence of a thrombotic event is associated with higher mortality in patients with LA.

What kind of doctor treats lupus anticoagulant?

Typically, lupus is treated by rheumatologists. Rheumatologists are internists or pediatricians (or both) that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones, as well as certain autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Is lupus anticoagulant inherited?

Various studies suggest a familial occurrence of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, with or without clinical evidence of APS. This familial tendency could be genetically determined. Multiple human leukocyte antigen-DR or -DQ associations with antiphospholipid antibodies have been described.