Thrombin Generation Assay in Antiphospholipid Antibodies Positive Subjects as a Personalized Thrombotic Risk Assessment: State of the Art and Perspectives.

Purpose Of The Review: Thrombotic risk assessment in antiphospholipid positive (aPL +) subjects is a major challenge, and the study of in vitro thrombin generation (thrombin generation assays (TGA)) could provide useful information. Activated protein C (APC) sensitivity is involved in thrombotic events in antiphospholipid syndrome patients. We summarized methods used to assess APC sensitivity with TGA and evaluated the prognostic role of APC resistance through literature search.

Thrombocytopenia in antiphospholipid syndrome: Is anticoagulation and/or antiaggregation always required?

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune and prothrombotic condition defined by the association of thrombotic events and/or obstetrical complications and the persistence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) over time. Among the new criteria recently included in the 2023 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for APS, thrombocytopenia is one of the most frequent. The occurrence of thrombocytopenia in aPL/APS patients is important to consider because it could predict APS-related clinical events with a 3-fold increased risk for thrombotic events or obstetrical morbidity or all-cause deaths.

Risk of livedo with antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Livedo is a well-known skin condition in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which correspond to small vessels involvement. The influence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) on the occurrence of livedo is controversial. The aim of our study was to estimate the risk of livedo associated with aPL in patients with SLE.

Circulating Endothelial Cells are Associated with Thromboembolic Events in Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibodies.

Background:  Endothelial damage has been described in antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-positive patients. However, it is uncertain whether circulating endothelial cells (CECs)-which are released when endothelial injury occurs-can be a marker of patients at high risk for thrombosis.

Methods:  Ninety-seven patients with aPL and/or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were included.

Obturator Bypass Remains a Useful Option.

Background: The femoral tripod remains technically crucial in vascular surgery, as well for an elective revascularization as for an extensive approach to the arterial tree. The management of septic complications and healing disorders in this area is really challenging. Obturator bypass (OB) represents an alternative sometimes employed in this context, but few recent series were recently published.

Association between carotid revascularization for asymptomatic stenosis and cognitive functions.

Asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) can cause cognitive dysfunction, related to cerebral hypoperfusion and microemboli. These mechanisms could be treated by carotid revascularization, but the impact of carotid angioplasty stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) on cognitive functions remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to realize a report on the actual state of results about asymptomatic carotid stenosis revascularization and cognitive function.

A new pro-thrombotic mechanism of neutrophil extracellular traps in antiphospholipid syndrome: impact on activated protein C resistance.

Objectives: In APS, precise evaluation of thrombotic risk is a major challenge. Different players, such as activated protein C (APC) resistance or neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to the risk of thrombosis. Nevertheless, no study has investigated the interaction between these actors.

Systematic Review of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in COVID-19 Patients: Culprits or Bystanders?

Purpose Of Review: COVID-19 patients have a procoagulant state with a high prevalence of thrombotic events. The hypothesis of an involvement of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) has been suggested by several reports. Here, we reviewed 48 studies investigating aPL in COVID-19 patients.

Atypical paronychia: don't forget herpesvirus.

Paronychia is usually caused by bacterial infections. Herpetic whitlow is an acute infection of the fingers or toes caused by herpes simplex viruses and it typically presents with vesicles. We report the case of a 78-year-old woman with gingivostomatitis and atypical paronychia in several fingers without blisters.