Stroke associated with antiphospholipid antibodies.

There is a strong link between antiphospholipid antibodies and stroke. Retrospective studies indicate that these patients are generally young, often have had prior thrombotic events including stroke, frequently complain of headaches, and often experience amaurosis fugax. Cardiac valvular lesions, particularly involving the mitral valve, are frequently found. The limited pathological studies show a noninflammatory thrombotic occlusion of both large and small cerebral vessels and a "thrombotic endocarditis." The underlying pathogenesis involves an immune-mediated prothrombotic state.