New and upcoming treatments in antiphospholipid syndrome: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Current therapeutic recommendations for thrombosis prevention in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are limited to anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) or heparins and to anti-platelet aggregating agents. Maintaining optimized anticoagulation to prevent recurrent thrombosis or bleeding remains a therapeutic challenge. Although there are important ongoing trials with direct oral anticoagulants, they still aim the same target. New insights about pathophysiology in APS have revealed a myriad of potential pathways to be investigated as treatment targets. A radical shift from a hematological/coagulative approach to an immunological one will probably represent the near future of APS treatment. We reviewed the therapeutic trends and potential future treatments.

Keywords: Antiphospholipid antibodies; Antiphospholipid syndrome; Direct oral anticoagulants; Hydroxychloroquine; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Treatment.