What is Hughes Syndrome ?
Hughes syndrome, also known as ‘sticky blood’ or ‘Antiphospholipid Syndrome’, is an autoimmune disease which can cause abnormal blood clotting in any blood vessel – both arteries and veins. As a result it can cause many different problems. These include clots in the legs known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT, miscarriage and dangerous arterial thrombosis resulting in strokes and heart attacks. Hughes syndrome accounts for about one in five DVTs and may be to blame in some cases of economy class syndrome, leading to the deaths of young people travelling on long-haul flights. One in five cases of stroke in young people (under 45) is associated with Hughes syndrome. Others are misdiagnosed as having multiple sclerosis because of similar brain symptoms. Hughes Syndrome also accounts for as many as one in five cases of recurrent miscarriage. Miscarriage is thought to result from disruption of blood flow through the small blood vessels of the placenta. Although the exact sequence of events is
In 1983 Dr Graham Hughes and his colleagues described a condition – often known as “sticky blood” or Antiphospholipid Syndrome, in which there was a danger of thrombosis. Patients with the syndrome were at risk, both from vein thrombosis (including DVT’s), and in some, more dangerous arterial thrombosis, including a risk of strokes and heart attacks. In women with the syndrome, the “sticky blood” is unable to get through the sensitive small blood vessels to the fetus, and there is a risk of miscarriage. Fortunately, the syndrome is usually detected by a simple blood test, and correct treatment is effective – usually very effective. The aim of the treatment is to thin the blood – the commonly used medicines being either low dose (“junior”) aspirin, heparin or warfarin. It is of interest here because people with Hughes Syndrome are very often misdiagnosed as having MS.
