What does APLA mean in PHYSIOLOGY

What is APLA

APLA refers to antiphospholipid antibodies, which are antibodies produced by the body’s immune system that mistakenly recognize its own phospholipids as foreign invaders. Phospholipids are molecules found in all cells and tissues that help maintain the structure of cell membranes and aid in their healthy functioning. When these antibodies bind to these phospholipids, they can cause disruption to the normal functioning of cells and lead to inflammation or damage to these structures. This can result in clotting issues throughout the body including stroke or pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lungs) as well as other systemic diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis

If APLA is suspected, then a medical practitioner may order a couple of tests to diagnose it such as an immunoassay test for antiphospholipid antibodies or a laboratory test called "coagulation profile" which measures a number of clotting factors including protein C or protein S levels which may be decreased if APLAs are present. A full physical examination with medical history information should also be taken into account when diagnosing someone with APLA as there could be underlying conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis that need treating too.

Treatment

Treatment for APLA depends on the severity of symptoms and whether it has caused any long-term damage already but usually involves taking medication such as aspirin, warfarin (a type of anticoagulant) or heparin (an injectable anti-inflammatory) every day to reduce clotting risk. If underlying autoimmune disorders are also present then immunosuppressant medications may be prescribed along with lifestyle changes like regular exercise and avoiding smoking/alcohol consumption/certain foods/stress etc. There are also alternative therapies available like acupuncture which might help some people cope better with their condition if conventional treatments seem insufficient.