Rethinking antiphospholipid syndrome to guide future management and research

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) consists of thrombotic, non-thrombotic and obstetric clinical manifestations developing in individuals with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Although researchers have made progress in characterizing different clinical phenotypes of aPL-positive people, the current approach to clinical management is still mostly based on a 'one size fits all' strategy, which is derived from the results of a limited number of prospective, controlled studies. With the 2023 publication of the ACR-EULAR APS classification criteria, it is now possible to rethink APS, to lay the groundwork for subphenotyping through novel pathophysiology-informed approaches, and to set a future APS research agenda guided by unmet needs in clinical management.