APS/HUGHES

[titchy77]

Hi I thought I would post in the pregnancy and general health. I was told a couple of years ago when I'd just fallen pregnant with dc3 that I had hughes/aps. I have 3 dc and have had 3 mc, my last 2 dc had iugr and had problems with placenta. I had 1 blood test which showed my IgG anticardiolipin level was 14.755 and my IgM anticardiolipin level was 7.983. From what I've read you are meant to have 2 blood tests 6-8wks apart to test for aps but I only had 1, does anybody know if this is correct or whether the levels are above what they should be? Also I would like to go on the pill but my gp said that I wouldn't be able to go on the normal pill but could go on the mini pill,are there many side effects taking the mini pill? Also when I get cold my skin itches like crazy and goes a deep pink colour, is this something associated with aps? Thanks for your help.

bump

Hi I have SLE and get tested for APS regularly, have never had one 6-8weeks after another. Did you read that on a good website like the one based at St Thomas' Hospital in London www.hughes-syndrome.org/researchtommies.htm? Just found this info on IgG and M levels - normal is 0 to 10, Equivocal is 11 to 15, Positive is 16 to 60, and strong positive is greater than 60. So one of yours looks normal and one low positive or equivocal. Maybe they only do the follow up tests 6-8 weeks later if you get a positive result?

The itchy skin and pink colour could be Raynauds phenomena/disease and it is common to APS and SLE caused by erratic constriction of the blood vessels in your extremities, I get it in my fingers, toes, ears and the tip of my nose.

Taking the pill is fraught with issues if you have APS as it increases your likelyhood of blood clots which is higher anyway due to the APS. You don't say if you are on any meds or under the care of a specialist - you should be!

Hi thanks for the information, so it looks like one has come up borderline positive, I wonder if its worth speaking to my gp about it. No I'm not on any meds or under a specialist, was on aspirin and clexane throughout my last pregnancy and for 6 wks after and was closely monitored, but nothing since. I have read that normal levels for igg are 0-10 and for igm its 0-7 so I'm only just over that. Think I will go back to my doctor. Thanks