Positive APA Blood Result???

SandiLI · 03-09-2005, 09:23 AM

I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with APA (antiphospholipid antibodies). I just got the news that I tested positive to this. Not good!!! I'm in the process of my 4th DE IVF.

I'm told that I was very lucky to have given birth to my DS. APA is a clotting blood factor which is common for causing miscarriages. To help in the prevention of this a baby asprin and injections of heparin, which are blood thinners are given daily.

I'm a little freaked right now. My RE said it has been stated that a lot women who need egg donors are prone to having this APA. He also stated that a lot of people don't test for this. I did 3 prior IVF's with another clinic and I was never tested.

Just was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this topic?

Blondie8 · 03-09-2005, 09:36 AM

PREGNANCY MENTIONED-------------------------------------

Hi,

I have APA's and my currently 35 wks pregnant after taking BA and Heparin starting cd6 of my cycle. I really don't think that management of the APA's has proven to be a big deal, once you get used to the daily injections and the bruising it's quite manageable, especially in light of not having the diagnosis... in my case recurrent loss. The BA I will take for the rest of my life, there is an increased risk of ongoing clotting issues (strokes, clots, etc.) due to APA's so the BA will reduce my risk.

I did not use DE so I'm not familiar with any further implications of DE and APA's but overall APA's have to do with your blood clotting so I'm not clear if there would be any unique conditions if you're using DE.

Insofar as testing, yep, you're usually only tested after a couple of m/c's and it's also tricky to diagnose. If you are tested repeatedly over one year you will not be positive every time and your positive results will move up and down the scale of mild to high positives. Most Docs do not diagnosis APA's on the basis of one positive APA result.

You might want to check out the immune BB, it's a great source of info and support for all things immune and given that APA's are an immune system response there is tons of info on this board about APA's. The pinned thread about resources is a good start. There's lots of confusing language and terms in the immune world and once you start reading you'll most likely have many questions.

If I can be of any help please PM me. Don't worry about the "positive result", in my case it proved to be really helpful and I doubt I'd be pregnant right now without the diagnosis and the resulting treatment.

**BC-MAV** · 03-09-2005, 01:01 PM

I had all those tests.. never had a positive APA (anti-phospholipid antibodies) but I did have a postive ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) and high amounts of NK (natural killer) cells!!! I have never been pregnant and I had a negative APA so I don't think having a + APA is dooming you. I think they treat with baby aspririn and heparin to prevent inflammation around ovulation time and to prevent clotting around the embryo. I actually did the heparin and baby aspirin and someone I know did the treatment all through pregnancy and stopped several weeks before the birth.

SandiLI · 03-10-2005, 08:40 AM

Thank you both so much for the info. I'm feeling a little better about it, I guess I have to except the results and be positive from here on out. I am thankful I know now that later.

My RE said I would be on Heparin and BA till 36th weeks, God willing I get PG, I have to get there first.

I will check out the immune BB and see what they have to say.

Thanks again!

03-09-2005, 09:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
SandiLI Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 371	Positive APA Blood Result??? I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with APA (antiphospholipid antibodies). I just got the news that I tested positive to this. Not good!!! I'm in the process of my 4th DE IVF. I'm told that I was very lucky to have given birth to my DS. APA is a clotting blood factor which is common for causing miscarriages. To help in the prevention of this a baby asprin and injections of heparin, which are blood thinners are given daily. I'm a little freaked right now. My RE said it has been stated that a lot women who need egg donors are prone to having this APA. He also stated that a lot of people don't test for this. I did 3 prior IVF's with another clinic and I was never tested. Just was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this topic? __________________ Sandi 38 yrs old, ovarian failure at age 16 DE IVF #1 6/01, neg DE IVF #2 10/01, son DFET #3 10/03, neg DE IVF #4, 3/31/05 neg DFET #5, 11/10/05 It's Twins! Boy and a Girl, born 7/12/06

03-09-2005, 09:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Blondie8 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Swimming in a sea of Smarties Posts: 2,806	PREGNANCY MENTIONED------------------------------------- Hi, I have APA's and my currently 35 wks pregnant after taking BA and Heparin starting cd6 of my cycle. I really don't think that management of the APA's has proven to be a big deal, once you get used to the daily injections and the bruising it's quite manageable, especially in light of not having the diagnosis... in my case recurrent loss. The BA I will take for the rest of my life, there is an increased risk of ongoing clotting issues (strokes, clots, etc.) due to APA's so the BA will reduce my risk. I did not use DE so I'm not familiar with any further implications of DE and APA's but overall APA's have to do with your blood clotting so I'm not clear if there would be any unique conditions if you're using DE. Insofar as testing, yep, you're usually only tested after a couple of m/c's and it's also tricky to diagnose. If you are tested repeatedly over one year you will not be positive every time and your positive results will move up and down the scale of mild to high positives. Most Docs do not diagnosis APA's on the basis of one positive APA result. You might want to check out the immune BB, it's a great source of info and support for all things immune and given that APA's are an immune system response there is tons of info on this board about APA's. The pinned thread about resources is a good start. There's lots of confusing language and terms in the immune world and once you start reading you'll most likely have many questions. If I can be of any help please PM me. Don't worry about the "positive result", in my case it proved to be really helpful and I doubt I'd be pregnant right now without the diagnosis and the resulting treatment. __________________ Keep Calm and Carry On Slogan printed on posters in 1939 by the UK government

03-10-2005, 08:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
SandiLI Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 371	Thank you both so much for the info. I'm feeling a little better about it, I guess I have to except the results and be positive from here on out. I am thankful I know now that later. My RE said I would be on Heparin and BA till 36th weeks, God willing I get PG, I have to get there first. I will check out the immune BB and see what they have to say. Thanks again! __________________ Sandi 38 yrs old, ovarian failure at age 16 DE IVF #1 6/01, neg DE IVF #2 10/01, son DFET #3 10/03, neg DE IVF #4, 3/31/05 neg DFET #5, 11/10/05 It's Twins! Boy and a Girl, born 7/12/06

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03-09-2005, 01:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
BC-MAV Board Coordinator for Surrogacy BB Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: way down yonder ... Posts: 29,652 Blog Entries: 50	I had all those tests.. never had a positive APA (anti-phospholipid antibodies) but I did have a postive ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) and high amounts of NK (natural killer) cells!!! I have never been pregnant and I had a negative APA so I don't think having a + APA is dooming you. I think they treat with baby aspririn and heparin to prevent inflammation around ovulation time and to prevent clotting around the embryo. I actually did the heparin and baby aspirin and someone I know did the treatment all through pregnancy and stopped several weeks before the birth.