Pediatric antiphospholipid syndrome: is it the same as an adult?

Abstract

Importance: Antiphospholipid syndrome in neonates and children is a rare, but in some cases life-threatening condition with arterial and/or venous thrombosis and/or non-thrombotic neurological, skin, ophthalmological and other manifestations.

Observations: This review highlights the available information about the features of pediatric APS, including the rare catastrophic form, the differences between pediatric and adult APS, and the role of genetic thrombophilia in APS manifestation.

Conclusions and relevance: The clinical manifestations and treatment options for APS in children may differ from those in adults, and prescribing therapy can be challenging due to the unique clinical and morphological characteristics of the pediatric patient. Pediatric APS may be a predictor of the development of certain autoimmune diseases and classic manifestations of APS in adulthood, therefore, a revision of the existing criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of APS in children is necessary.

Keywords: Pediatric antiphospholipid syndrome; antiphospholipid antibodies; catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome; genetic thrombophilia; neonatal thrombosis.