APS Linked to Birth Difficulties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 06/10/2007
Contact: Christina "Tina" Pohlman
Phone: 608-782-2626
Website Address: http://www.apsfa.org
Email Address: apsfa@apsfa.org

APS Linked to Birth Difficulties

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS), is found more often in women than men with 90 percent of all APS sufferers being women.

APS is an autoimmune disease that causes blood clots, premature births and even miscarriages.

Women with APS may have difficulties with pregnancy. During pregnancy, women are at higher risk of developing blood clots and preeclampsia. In APS, pregnancies are thought to be lost because blood clots form in the placenta and starve the baby of nutrition. Some women may have trouble getting pregnant, while others may experience repeated miscarriages. Blood clots that develop in the placenta can cause fetal growth problems, fetal distress, preterm birth, or pregnancy loss.

APS pregnancies are not normal. Normal pregnancy is 40 weeks. In APS, it is more common to deliver the baby between 30-35 weeks, and between 3-5 pounds. Once born, the babies do fine.

Over the long term, many doctors recommend women continue to take a low dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of developing dangerous blood clots. Many women with APS are unaware they have the condition, but it can be diagnosed with a blood test. Doctors may consider the diagnosis when a woman has repeated, unexplained pregnancy loss.

Many women who have problems with APS during pregnancy are completely fine when not pregnant. Others do go on to develop problems with clotting. Currently there is no way of telling which women will be unlucky, until a clot actually occurs.

Infertility has also been linked to antiphospholipid antibodies. Testing for these antibodies is becoming routine in infertility clinics.

The APS Foundation of America is the only United States health agency dedicated specifically to bringing national awareness to APS. We are a volunteer-run, community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to spreading awareness and support to those with the disease.

Knowing more about APS can make all the difference. Get in the know and Get in the Flow!

For more information Contact: Christina "Tina" Pohlman at Phone: 608-782-2626 Website Address: http://www.apsfa.org. Email Address: apsfa@apsfa.org

JUNE IS APS AWARENESS MONTH: GET IN THE FLOW!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 06/03/2007
Contact: Christina "Tina" Pohlman
Phone: 608-782-2626
Website Address: www.apsfa.org
Email Address: apsfa@apsfa.org

JUNE IS APS AWARENESS MONTH: GET IN THE FLOW!

The APS Foundation of America, Inc. (APSFA) has declared June as National Antiphospholipid Antibody (APS) Awareness Month. We are educating the public and medical community about this disorder, urging people to Get in the Flow!

This disorder threatens to become more common than Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis.

The APSFA is sending petitions to several states to make June APS Awareness Month. The APSFA will be attending conferences, medical seminars, grand rounds and health fairs to share the patient perspective and provide awareness of APS throughout the month of June and also encouraging the community to Get in the Flow. Individual and APSFA fundraisers will be occurring throughout the country to help promote APS awareness and help support the mission.

Knowing more about APS can make all the difference. Get in the know and Get in the Flow!

The APSFA is the only United States health agency dedicated specifically to bringing national awareness to APS. We are a volunteer-run, community-based, non-profit organization.

For more information Contact: Christina "Tina" Pohlman at Phone: 608-782-2626
Website Address: www.apsfa.org Email Address: apsfa@apsfa.org

June is APS Awareness Month!

APS is an abbreviation for Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. APS is also called APLS or APLA in the United States and Hughes Syndrome or Sticky Blood in the UK.

APS is associated with recurrent clotting events (thrombosis) including premature stroke, repeated miscarriages, phlebitis, venous thrombosis (clot in the vein) and pulmonary thromboembolism (blockage of an artery found in the lung due to a clot that has traveled from a vein). It is also associated with low platelet or blood elements that prevent bleeding. Recently, however, even more disease states have been linked with APL including premature heart attack, migraine headaches, various cardiac valvular abnormalities, skin lesions, abnormal movement/chorea, diseases that mimic multiple sclerosis, vascular diseases of the eye that can lead to visual loss and blindness.

For more information click the graphic above!

Volume 5 of out Newsletter, "Antiphospho...What?" is available for download!

Volume 5 of out Newsletter, "Antiphospho...What?" is available for download!

written by the APS Foundation of America, Inc. Enjoy!!! :)

http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol5Spring2007.pdf

We still are looking for articles, book reviews, etc...please email us for more information!

Keywords: APS, APSFA, Lupus, Hughes, Syndrome, Plaquenil, Awareness, DVT, Stroke, Heart Attack, June, warfarin, herbs, Coumadin, INR, Machine, finger, stick

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE - EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN!

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE - EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN!

By: Gale McCarty, MD, FACR, FACP. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, or its trade name-Plaquenil) has a long and honored history of use in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a general medication to decrease activity of the immune system and decrease symptoms. For years it has been approved for use by the FDA for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and has been used most frequently for skin and joint manifestations. It is considered a mainstay of therapy for any patient with SLE by many lupus experts and rheumatologists. It has many mechanisms of action, some related to decrease in the activity of the immune system, and some related to effects on blood clotting mechanisms. HCQ belongs to the class of drugs call anti-malarials, which includes Chloroquine and Atabrine. (This does not mean that anyone thinks that SLE or APS is caused by the agent that causes malaria-like most discoveries in medicine, it was the chance observation that patients with some autoimmune diseases who got anti-malarial drugs to prevent malaria when traveling to likely areas of infection noted their symptoms improved on HCQ). One of the most complete and excellent reviews of all the literature on the anti-malarials to which all patients and their physicians are directed is Dr. Dan Wallace’s Chapter 59 in the Wallace-Hahn Dubois’ Lupus Erythematosus textbook. Another excellent review on APS therapy in general has been published by Dr. Robert Roubey.

http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol5Spring2007.pdf

June is APS Awareness Month: Get in the Flow!

June is APS Awareness Month: Get in the Flow!

The APS Foundation of America, Inc. (APSFA) has declared June as National Antiphospholipid Antibody (APS) Awareness Month. We are educating the public and medical community about this disorder, urging people to Get in the Flow!

http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol5Spring2007.pdf

INR Monitoring in Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibodies with Finger Stick INR Machines.

INR Monitoring in Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibodies with Finger Stick INR Machines.

by: Stephan Moll, MD. A superb way to monitor INRs (International Normalized Ratio) in patients on oral anticoagulants who do NOT have antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) is though use of “point of care instruments”, where the INR is tested on blood from a finger stick. This method gives fast results and is used by many physicians’ offices and by some patients at home. However, in patients with APLA on oral anticoagulants these instruments may give inaccurate readings.

http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol5Spring2007.pdf

Are Natural Alternatives to Warfarin Safe and Effective?

Are Natural Alternatives to Warfarin Safe and Effective?

Written by: Randy Rauber, Pharm.D Candidate
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Reviewed by: Al Lodwick, RPh, MA. Is there any evidence to support the use of herbal supplement “blood thinners” in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) as natural alternatives to Warfarin?

http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol5Spring2007.pdf

MO-KAN Spreads APS Awareness

MO-KAN Spreads APS Awareness

Written by Dana Stuart. “Mo-Kan” is a phrase commonly used in the Missouri-Kansas region to describe various missions or goals that Missouri and Kansas businesses and residents CAN accomplish together. Frequently used for public service announcements, advertisements, and other miscellaneous uses, “Mo-Kan” has become the unofficial slogan for several alliances, which have formed for some very worthy causes. Now “Mo-Kan” spreads APS Awareness!

http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol5Spring2007.pdf

APS in the Community

APS in the Community

written by Seren Estrada. On April 22nd the APSFA made an appearance at the annual March of Dimes WalkAmerica event in Springfield, Virginia.

http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol5Spring2007.pdf

June is APS Awareness Month

June is APS Awareness Month

The Proclamation is a call to action for governments around the world to increase their financial support for APS research, awareness and patient services.

Each year, the APS Foundation of America, Inc (APSFA) will revise the Proclamation to reflect the emerging issues that people with APS around the world must face every day. The Proclamation serves to give a single voice to all individuals affected by this devastating and debilitating chronic disease.

Please join the APSFA in urging your government to adopt and make June APS Awareness Month.

WHEREAS, The APS Foundation of America, Inc. has declared June as National Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) Awareness Month and is educating the public and medical community about this clotting disorder and is urging people to "Get in the Flow”; and

WHEREAS, APS is the major cause of young strokes, many miscarriages, both arterial and venous thrombosis, and heart attacks. It has been estimated by some doctors that one third of all of young strokes (defined as under the age of 50) are due to APS. Some doctors believe that 1 in 5 of all Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVTs), Pulmonary Embolisms (PEs), and even worse, amputations are due to APS. And it is believed that 40-50% of patients with Lupus also have APS. Women are more likely than men to be affected by APS. Some estimates say that 75% to 90% of those affected are women. In obstetrics, it is estimated by some doctors that up to 25% of all women with 2 or more spontaneous miscarriages have APS; and

WHEREAS, the APS Foundation of America, Inc is working to bring a national attention to APS as a common factor in multiple miscarriages, thrombosis, young strokes, and heart attacks is vital in order to bring a joint effort to research, funding, early detection, and eventually, prevention and cure for APS; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the APS Foundation of America, Inc. is to offer understanding and support to individuals, family, friends, and care givers of APS; to offer information about and education on APS; to support research regarding APS by keeping the latest information available and referring people to such agencies who do research; to raise funds to provide information and education through public donations, grants, fundraisers, sponsorships, and bequests; and to bring national focus to APS in the United States.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that June is hereby designated as APS AWARENESS MONTH on which the APS Foundation of America, Inc call for increases in public and private sector funding for medical research on APS, targeted education programs for health professionals, patients and the public, and worldwide recognition of APS as a significant public health issue.

Proclaimed This Day, 1 June 2007