Antiphospholipid syndrome and central nervous system

Mayer, Miroslav; Cerovec, Mislav; Radoš, Marko; Čikeš, Nada

doi:10.1016/j.clineuro.2010.03.023

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Volume 112, Issue 7 , Pages 602-608, September 2010

Antiphospholipid syndrome and central nervous system

Miroslav Mayer
- University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Kispaticeva ulica 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +385 12388330.
Mislav Cerovec
- University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Kispaticeva ulica 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Radoš
- University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Kispaticeva ulica 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Nada Čikeš
- University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Kispaticeva ulica 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Received 10 March 2010; accepted 23 March 2010.

Abstract

Classification criteria, etiology, pathogenesis, major central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), as well as diagnostic and therapeutic approach are discussed in the article, supported by several MRI findings to illustrate differential complexity of selected topics. Close interplay of inflammation, autoimmunity, coagulation cascade, vasculature bed, neuron physiology and demyelinization in APS is elaborated. Cerebrovascular disease, multiple sclerosis-like syndrome, seizures, cognitive disfunction, headache and migraine, chorea and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) are discussed as the most prominent CNS manifestations of the APS.

Keywords: Antiphospholipid syndrome, Central nervous system, Autoimmunity, Thrombosis, Demyelinization