Blood Tests

Okay, so my lab results are in and I did have one abnormality. I had higher than average levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (often referred to as APA, aPL and APS). I have been advised to start aspirin therapy and not to try and concieve again for two more months. I took my first aspirin (ever in my entire life) on Thursday. I am supposed to take them even if I don't try to conceive, to lesson my chances of developing a clot. I asked why we have to wait three months until we try and conceive and it is just my doctors' standard miscarriage advise, it has nothing to do with the APA. I have done TONS of reading on the subject since then and I will post below the article I have found most useful. I have to go back to the doctor on March 12th. Until then:

Taken From www.sharedjourney.com

What are Antiphospholipid Antibodies (APA)?
Antibodies are special cells that are supposed to help our bodies attack foreign invaders, like bacteria from colds and infections. Sometimes though, the body mistakes its own cells for invaders and attacks them, causing a host of problems. This is the case with antiphospholipid antibodies - they attack our own cells.

Antiphospholipid antibodies are proteins that circulate around in the bloodstream. These proteins bind to cell membranes, making them sticky. This prevents our blood from flowing properly, resulting in blood clots. These antibodies can endanger the health of both you or your baby.

Types of Antiphospholipid Antibodies
There are 21 different types of antiphospholipid antibodies. All are tested in the antiphospholipid antibody screen. Certain antiphospholipids can also be tested on their own. Some important phospholipid antibodies include:

• anticardiolipin
• antinuclear
• lupus

Who Has Antiphospholipid Antibodies?
Though they can cause problems, surprisingly, 2% to 15% of the healthy population actually has antiphospholipid antibodies in their blood. However, these people have very low levels of the antibodies, and therefore they don't really cause a problem. It is only when they are at high levels that the antiphospholipid antibodies begin to make trouble.

Antiphospholipid antibodies are also commonly found in people with:

• unexplained infertility
• Lupus
• Migraine headaches
• Deep vein thrombosis

Complications Caused by Antiphospholipid Antibody
There are a number of complications associated with high levels of antiphospholipid antibody. These include:

• blood clotting
• stroke
• heart attack
• miscarriage

Infertility and Antiphospholipid Antibody
High levels of antiphospholipid antibody are often associated with unexplained infertility including:

• recurrent miscarriage
• stillbirth
• placental insufficiency
• implantation failure
• increased rates of IVF failure.

It is thought that antiphospholipid antibodies compromise the placenta which nourishes your baby. Because the antibodies cause clotting, the embryo is cut off from oxygen and nutrient support. As a result, spontaneous miscarriage or fetal death can occur. Clotting can also cause distress to the placenta, making it difficult to have a successful implantation.

Testing for Antiphospholipid Antibodies
The antiphosolipid antibody test can check for elevated levels of all of the different types of antibodies. Tests can also be ordered to check on specific antibodies. The test is performed using a small blood sample.

The Results
The results of the antiphospholipid antibody test are measured in titers. This is a measurement of how much your blood can be diluted until there are no more antibodies in it. Results can be normal, borderline, or high. High levels typically measure between 1:100 and 1:400.

If you test as having high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies in your bloodstream, it is likely that these antibodies may be playing a role in your infertility. Your health care provider will discuss your results with you.

Treatment
If you do test high for antiphospholipid antibodies, you may decide to try to treatment. Treatment is aimed at reducing the number of clots in your blood, and restoring blood flow to the placenta. Low-dose aspirin and the anticoagulant Heparin are often recommended.

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I don't have any lupus antibodies, so I am really grateful for that. However, I am nervous about having to possibly give myself two injections of heparin a day. Okay, lets not even pretend that I will be giving myself the shots. I don't know if James will still want to stay married to me after having to chase me around the house twice a day to give me the shots. This article doesn't elaborate on the inflammatory response part of the disorder. For some reason, women who have high levels of these antibodies in their blood, but don't have a history of clots (like me for example) have a problem with implantation, because the antibodies actually attack the placenta. That is what happens in the "implantation problems" category. Since the baby still had a heartbeat after my contractions were well underway (I thought I had lost the baby that is why I went to the ER), it seems unlikely that it was due to placental clots, which would not cause me to miscarry a baby with a heartbeat. They can give you prednisone (a steriod, which I had to go on before for a bad allergy flare up) to try and keep you body from rejecting it. I am sure Miranda and Meredith (and Kelly who practicly lived with us at Turtle Creek) will be only too happy to explain how moody prednisone makes me (remember, it was the same month Kendall spent fixing our AC). I can only imagine how that and pregnancy would mix. Well anyway, James and I have got a lot of things to thing about. He comes on (for good, for a while anyway) March 2nd! I have missed him so much. We are two weeks away from closing on a house. I will post pictures soon.