OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of the main clinical, immunologic and laboratorial features of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and to perform a comparison between primary and secondary forms of APS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A data base of 149 patients from HCFMUSP who met the preliminary criteria for the classification of APS was analyzed. RESULTS: The pattern consisted of 140 (94%) female and 9 (6%) male patients with a mean age of 39.7 ± 11.6years. Primary APS was present in 50 (33.8%) of the patients. Arterial thrombosis were more found in primary APS compared to secondary APS (56% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.02), more specifically the presence of Sneddon's syndrome (56% vs. 35,7%, p = 0.02) and limbs ischaemia (18% vs. 5%, p = 0.017) were more prevalent in the first group. Except cataract that was more frequently observed in secondary APS group (10% vs. 0, p = 0.017), no other significant difference was found regarding comorbidities. In relation to autoantibodies, the secondary APS patients had a more significant prevalence of ANA (99% vs. 60%, p < 0.0001), anti-ENA (45.9% vs. 22%, p = 0.007) e anti-Ro/SS-A (43% vs. 8%, p < 0.0001). Antiphospholipid antibodies (IgM anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant) did not differ between the groups, except IgG anticardiolipin that was more found in secondary APS group (84.7% vs. 60%, p = 0.0018), CONCLUSIONS: the present study showed that primary APS had more arterial thrombotic events, more specifically Sneddon's syndrome and limbs ischemia, than secondary APS. It was also reinforced the role of autoantibodies to identify patients with APS associated to SLE.
antiphospholipid syndrome; epidemiology; systemic lupus erythematosus; thrombophilia; anticardiolipin
