Have you suddenly developed a blood clot, or had some complication during pregnancy and the doctor did a blood test? Were you worried when the report said 'Lupus Anticoagulant positive'? Did you get scared when you saw the word 'lupus' and thought that this was lupus? This name is actually a bit confusing. That's why many people have misunderstandings about it. Let's clear up all the problems about this today.
What exactly is Lupus Anticoagulant?
Simply put, this is a type of antibody that can be present in our blood.
Think of our body's immune system as an army that protects a country. When a germ or something harmful enters the body from outside, this army recognizes that enemy and creates a group of special soldiers, called antibodies, to destroy it. This is what usually happens.
But, sometimes our immune system goes awry. Instead of attacking foreign invaders, it starts attacking our own healthy cells . That's how lupus anticoagulant (LA) is an antibody that is produced by mistake and damages our own body.
This LA antibody, along with two other antibodies, can cause a condition called Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) . This is an autoimmune disease. The main characteristic of this is that the risk of blood clots forming in the blood vessels of the body is much higher than the average person.
So why is this called 'lupus'? Is this the same disease as lupus?
This is where many people get confused and scared. Even though there is a 'lupus' part in the name, lupus is actually two different things: Lupus Anti-Coagulant (LA) and Lupus disease. It's a very interesting story how this name came about.
This antibody was first discovered decades ago when researchers tested blood samples from lupus patients. So they thought it was something specific to lupus patients.
They also noticed that blood samples containing this antibody took longer than normal to clot in vitro. 'Anticoagulant' means 'prevents blood clotting.' So, they named it 'lupus anticoagulant', meaning 'something in the body of lupus patients that prevents blood clotting.'
However, both of those assumptions were later found to be wrong. In fact, the opposite is true. What this antibody does inside the body is to increase blood clotting, not prevent it!
To clear up this confusion, see the table below.
| Fact | Lupus anticoagulant (LA) | Lupus disease (SLE) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | A certain harmful antibody in the blood. | A complex autoimmune disease that affects various organs in the body. |
| Main effect | Increases the risk of blood clots. | Many systems can be affected, such as the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, and brain. |
| Relationship | Having LA does not mean you have lupus, but some people with lupus may have LA. | LA is just one finding that may be associated with lupus. |
Why does something like this happen to our bodies?
This is because our immune system makes a mistake. These LA antibodies attack proteins that are attached to a type of fatty substance called phospholipids on the outer surface of our cells. This attack damages the cells, causing them to stick together and increase the risk of blood clots.
Experts are still not entirely sure why the immune system starts making these faulty antibodies in the first place. They believe it could be due to genetic factors, environmental influences, or other infectious conditions.
What does LA positive mean? How will it affect me?
Having LA in your blood means you are at risk of developing a condition called antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The word 'at risk' is very important here. It does not mean that you will definitely develop it.
Even though the LA antibody is present in the blood, there are many people who remain healthy throughout their lives without developing any blood clots or complications.
So don't be unnecessarily alarmed when you see this on your report. However, it's important for your doctor to be aware of this and to monitor you. Since you're more likely to develop blood clots than others, it's wise to be aware of it.
What are the treatments for this?
There is no treatment yet that completely removes this LA antibody from the body. But there are very good treatments to control the damage it can cause, namely the formation of blood clots.
If you have no symptoms, meaning you haven't had a blood clot before, your doctor may decide to just observe you without giving you any medication.
However, if you have had a blood clot before or have been diagnosed with APS, the main treatment is anticoagulants or blood thinners . Drugs such as warfarin and heparin are given to reduce the risk of blood clots. Sometimes, drugs such as corticosteroids are also given to reduce the overactivity of the immune system.
All of these treatments are decided by your doctor, taking into account many factors such as your condition, age, and other illnesses.
When should I see the doctor? What is an emergency?
When living with this situation, it is very important to know the difference between normal situations and emergencies.
| Opportunity | What to do |
|---|---|
| General observation | Go to the clinic at the scheduled time for check-ups as the doctor says. They will do blood tests to see if the medication dosage is correct and if there are any other changes. |
| Emergency (go to the ETU immediately) |
|
Warning signs of a blood clot
- Leg (Deep Vein Thrombosis - DVT): Sudden swelling, redness, warmth, and pain in one leg.
- Pulmonary Embolism: Sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain (especially when breathing), coughing up blood.
- Stroke: drooping of one side of the face, loss of one arm, difficulty speaking.
If any of these symptoms appear, go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) without delay .
Take-Home Message
- Lupus anticoagulant (LA) is not lupus itself. It is just a type of antibody in the blood.
- Having LA in your blood means you are at higher risk of developing a blood clot. It doesn't mean it will definitely happen.
- Don't panic after seeing the report. But definitely talk to your doctor about this and follow his advice.
- The main goal of treatment is to prevent blood clots from forming. Your doctor will determine the best treatment option for you.
- Always be aware of the warning signs of a blood clot (swelling in the legs, chest pain, difficulty breathing). If such a symptom appears, go to the ETU immediately.
- It's normal to feel scared and anxious when you think something you can't see inside your body could harm you. Instead of living in fear, live with awareness and mindfulness. Your doctor can help you on that journey.
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