Differential diagnosis of central nervous system manifestations of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Abstract

Anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been associated with a variety of neurologic manifestations. The evidence for an association between aPL and most of these is weak because (1) no association actually exists, (2) the manifestation is rare or (3) sufficiently powered studies have not been performed. The only neurologic manifestation that is considered to have sufficient evidence to justify it being a part of the criteria for the diagnosis of Anti-phospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) is cerebral ischemia. In this mini-review, most of the neurologic syndromes with an actual or suspected association with aPL are considered. The role of aPL in the differential diagnosis of these syndromes is considered as well.