Features of nervous system damage in antiphospholipid syndrome

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune process that increases the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis. The mechanism of damage to the central nervous system (CNS) can be not only due to thrombosis, but also antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) circulating in the peripheral blood. The latter can damage the cerebral vascular endothelium, alter the resistance of the blood-brain barrier and penetrate into the central nervous system, exerting a damaging effect on astroglia and neurons, as evidenced by the release of neurospecific proteins into the peripheral bloodstream. The role of APS in developing cerebral ischemia, migraine, epilepsy, chorea, transverse myelitis, multiple sclerosis, cognitive impairment and mental disorders, as well as the peripheral nervous system is described. It should also be noted about a role of APS for emerging neurological disorders in COVID-19, enabled apart from thrombogenesis due to APA via 2 potential mechanisms - molecular mimicry and neoepitope formation. Further study of the APS pathogenesis and interdisciplinary interaction are necessary to develop effective methods for patient management.