Antiphospholipid Antibody and Recurrent Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although aPLs (antiphospholipid antibodies) are associated with thrombotic events, especially in young patients, the role of aPLs in recurrent ischemic strokes (RIS) is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between aPLs and RIS. METHODS: The systematic review was conducted by a computer-assisted search of literature in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library published in English or Korean from 1990, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA). Review Manager 5.3 software was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: =54%). In the subgroup analysis, age <50 years, ethnicity, and type of aPL did not increase the risk of RIS. CONCLUSIONS: We found that aPLs are not an independent predictor for RIS in adults. However, considering the nonstandardized disease criteria, further well-designed prospective trials should be considered to confirm these findings.