The antiphospholipid syndrome.

: The antiphospholipid syndrome is now well established as an important, acquired prothrombotic disorder. Advances are being made in the understanding of the condition and the paradox of the in vitro anticoagulation, and the in vivo prothrombotic tendency. Newer and better assays for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome can be expected in the near future. Large, multi-centre, controlled trials to determine the optimum treatment of patients who test positive for the antiphospholipid syndrome, but have not suffered a thrombotic event, are required.