Blood clots from aPL can occur anywhere in the circulation and can affect any organ in the body. Blood clots in the leg veins can break off and travel to the lung, causing a very serious condition called pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism blocks blood flow to the lung and decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood. In a few cases, repeated thrombotic events may take place in a short time, leading to the progressive damage of several organs. This acute and life-threatening condition is called catastrophic APS. Patients with APS may suffer from other problems including low number of platelets, mottled purplish discoloration of the skin (livedo reticularis), and skin ulcerations. For pregnant women, aPL can lead to early and late miscarriage and pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine during pregnancy). Originally it was suggested that aPL were responsible for clots in the placenta’s blood vessels, causing fetal growth retardation. aPL also may directly attack the placental tissues, blocking their growth and development
.
