Obstetric Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Study Conducted in Tivaouane, Senegal

Introduction: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is a condition that can affect obstetric prognosis. We conducted a study to determine the frequency of this condition in our hospital. Materials and methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the internal medicine department of Abdou Aziz Sy Hospital. We included all patients who had arguments in favor of APS. Results: We included 19 patients. The average age was 32 years, with extremes of 31 and 42 years. The average duration of the condition was 6.7 years, with extremes of 1 and 10 years. The average number of pregnancies was 5.79, ranging from 4 to 14 pregnancies. Obstetric manifestations included abortions (in all patients), retained dead fetuses in 3 patients, and intrauterine fetal death in 3 patients. Extra-gynecological and obstetric signs included inflammatory polyarthralgia (in 6 patients), erythematosquamous lesions (4 patients), and physical asthenia (4 patients). Antinuclear antibodies were positive in 13 patients, and anti-ECT antibodies were positive in 7 patients. Circulating lupus anticoagulant was found in 6 patients, anticardiolipin in 7 patients, and anti-glycoprotein I in 5 patients. APS was primary in 10 patients and seronegative in 2 patients. Abortions were more closely correlated with the presence of circulating lupus anticoagulant and the co-occurrence of antibodies. Treatment consisted of conventional immunosuppressants in patients monitored for secondary APS and curative heparin therapy in six patients who became pregnant during follow-up, with a favorable outcome in three patients. Conclusion: APS is an underdiagnosed condition with a serious obstetric prognosis that compromises the maternal-fetal prognosis.