What Are Antiphospholipid Antibodies?
Antibodies are specialized proteins that typically attack germs like bacteria or viruses. But sometimes your body can mistakenly produce antibodies that attack a substance that wouldn’t normally be harmful — in this case, it’s your own tissues and cells. Phospholipids are a type of fat in your blood that plays an important role in clotting. So antiphospholipid antibodies are the antibodies your body might make to attack the phospholipids. Long story short: If you develop antiphospholipid antibodies, your blood may clot abnormally.
This is important in pregnancy, because phospholipids are a key component of the placenta. If you become pregnant and have these antibodies, your placenta could form clots in the blood vessels, blocking off the important transmission of oxygen and nutrients to your baby and preventing waste products from leaving the sac. Antiphospholipid syndrome is often a cause of recurrent pregnancy loss. It’s not terribly common, but if you’ve suffered from more than one pregnancy loss, it may be the problem. The good news is that the condition is treatable. Medications like baby aspirin or heparin can help thin your blood enough to prevent the clots from forming, so your baby can continue to grow without risk.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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