ABG: Arterial Blood Gas. Click here for more information.
ACL: Anticardiolipins (aka Immunoglobins). Click here for more information.
Ambulatory Electrocardiogram (aka Holter Monitoring): Click here more information.
ANA: Antinuclear Antibody. Click here more information.
Anticoagulant drugs: Medications used to stop blood clots from getting bigger and to keep new clots from forming; sometimes called blood thinners. Click here for more information.
Antithrombin III: A protein found in our bloodstream. It controls our clotting mechanism and prevents us from excessive clotting. It functions as a naturally occurring mild blood thinner by blocking the last part of our clotting mechanism and inactivates the clotting protein thrombin (= factor IIa); thus, it is called anti-thrombin.
Antithrombin III Deficiency (AT-III): AT-III deficiency is a disorder that increases the risk for blood clots. It can be (a) acquired, or (b) inherited, or (c) based on a misinterpretation of lab tests (values can be temporarily low at the time of the acute clot or during heparin therapy).
AntiXa: Unfractionated Heparin Anti-Xa Assay / Low Molecular Weight Heparin Anti-Xa Assay. Click here for more information.
APS: Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Click here for more information.
Artery: Any of the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
ASA: Aspirin. Click here for more information.
BP: Blood Pressure. Click here for more information.
BT: Bleeding Time. Click here for more information.
CAPS: Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Click here for more information.
Cardiac Catheterization. Click here for more information.
CBC: Complete Blood Count. Click here for more information.
CCU: Coronary Care Unit.
CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Is a government health care agency whose mission focuses on the prevention and treatment of disease. It is located in Atlanta , GA. Click here for more information.
Collateral: A smaller vein that provides an alternate path for blood to go around the place blocked by a clot.
Coumadin®: A brand name for warfarin, an anticoagulation medicine. Click here for more information.
CRP: C-Reactive Protein. Click here for more information.
CT: Computed Tomography Scan. Click here for more information.
Coronary CTA: Coronary Computed Tomography Angiogram. Click here for more information.
CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident (aka Stroke). Click here for more information.
D-Dimer: Click here for more information.
Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC): The four DOACs, including the three factor Xa inhibitors (apixaban, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban) and one direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) provide oral anticoagulation therapy alternatives to vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy. Click here for more information.
Doppler Ultrasound: Click here for more information.
DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis. A blood clot anywhere in the deep veins of the body. Occurs most often in the legs. May break off and travel to other parts of the body, most commonly the lungs. Click here for more information.
Dx: Diagnosis.
ECG / EKG: Electrocardiogram. Click here for more information.
Echocardiogram: Click here for more information.
Edema: Swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid. Click here for more information.
EEG: Electroencephalogram. Click here for more information.
ER: Emergency Room.
Embolectomy: A surgical procedure to remove a large clot. Where to find more information:
Embolus: A blood clot that breaks off from its original site, moves through the bloodstream, and lodges in another blood vessel.
ESR: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. Click here for more information.
Evoked Potential Tests: Click here for more information.
Exercise Stress Test: Click here for more information.
FFP: Fresh Frozen Plasma. Click here for more information.
Factor V deficiency: An inherited bleeding disorder, in which the clotting factor V (five) is low. The disorder is very rare, occurring in only one in 1 million people. This is not the same clinical problem as Factor V Leiden. Click here for more information.
FVL: Factor V Leiden. An inherited blood clotting disorder. Five percent of Caucasian Americans have it, 1.2 % of Afro-Americans. One can be heterozygous (i.e. have one bad gene), homozygous ( i.e. have 2 bad genes) or normal (i.e. not have any bad genes). The genetic test for factor V Leiden has only been available since 1994. Click here for more information.
Hb (Hgb): Hemoglobin. Click here for more information.
HCT: Hematocrit. Click here for more information.
Heterozygous: Having one abnormal gene. If you are heterozygote for Factor V Leiden you have inherited the trait from one parent.
HIT: Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia. Click here for more information.
Homocysteine: An amino acid found in the blood. High homocysteine levels are a risk factor for blood clots in the veins (DVT, PE) or arteries (heart attack, stroke), and hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). Click here for more information.
Homocystinuria: A rare hereditary disease that causes a deficiency of an enzyme needed to prevent the build up of homocysteine in the blood. Click here for more information.
Homozygous: Having 2 abnormal genes. If you are homozygote (2 bad genes) for Factor V Leiden, you inherited the gene from both parents.
Hx: History.
Hyperhomocysteinemia: A condition where e levated homocysteine levels are present in the blood which may damage the lining of blood vessels, and lead to the formation of blood clots. Click here for more information.
IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Click here for more information.
ICU: Intensive Care Unit.
IVIG: Intravenous Immune Globulin. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a medication made from grouped donated blood plasma that is used to reduce the risk of infection in people with weakened or impaired immune systems. IVIG contains antibodies to fight bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can cause disease. IVIG can be used as a replacement therapy for people who have too few antibodies to effectively fight infections. For example, IVIG may be used in babies born prematurely who are at risk of complications from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. It can also be used as treatment for immune system problems, such as for those that exist at birth (congenital immunodeficiency). Because immunoglobulin is made from donated blood, it is sometimes in short supply. It is also very expensive. Click here for more information.
Immunoglobulins. An immunoglobulins test is done to measure the level of immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, in your blood. Click here for more information.
INR: International Normalized Ratio. INR is a ratio that helps physicians monitor patients taking anticoagulant medications. The INR is a method of expressing the results of a prothrombin time (PT) blood test. It is based on an international standard that automatically corrects for variations between labs. Thus, using the INR, the PT measurement from one lab can be compared to a PT measurement from any other lab in the world, even if they use different methods to measure PT. The resulting measurement is often referred to as the INR/PT. Click here for more information.
ITP: Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Click here for more information.
LAC: Lupus Anticoagulant. Click here for more information.
Lipoprotein (a) (Lpa): Lipoprotein(a), is a particle in your blood which carries cholesterol, fats and proteins. The amount your body makes is inherited from one or both parents and is determined by the genes passed on from your parent(s) when you are born. It does not change very much during your lifetime except if you are a women, levels increase as the natural estrogen level declines with menopause. Diet and exercise seems to have little to no impact on the lipoprotein(a) level. Click here for more information.
LMWH: Low Molecular Weight Heparin. An injectable form of heparin (a Heparin blood thinner) that is given underneath the skin (= subcutaneously, s.c.). The brand names are Lovenox®, Fragmin®, Innohep®, and others). It is used as an alternative to Coumadin® for dental work and pregnancy. LMWH may be prescribed any time you need to be anti-coagulated but can’t take Coumadin®. Click here for more information.
Lung Function Tests: Click here for more information.
Lytic therapy: A clot busting medication given in the hospital into the blood vessel to break up clots. Has a risk of bleeding. Drug names are tPA, streptokinase, or urokinase.
MI: Myocardial Infarction (aka Heart Attack). Click here for more information.
MicroClotting: Simply put, micro-clotting, better referred to as “microvascular thrombosis”‘ describes blood clotting that is occurring in some of the smallest blood vessels in the body. Click here for more information.
MCTD: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. Click here for more information.
MRA: Magnetic Resonance Angiogram. Click here for more information.
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Click here for more information.
MS: Multiple Sclerosis. Click here for more information.
MTHFR: Stands for M ethylene- T etra- H ydro- F olate- R eductase. Some individuals with the homozygous MTHFR mutation have elevated homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels are a risk factor for blood clots. The individuals with MTHFR mutations who have normal homocysteine levels are not at increased risk for clots. Thus, the MTHFR mutation by itself is not a clotting disorder. Click here for more information.
Multi-infarct (arteriosclerotic) dementia: There is deterioration in previously normal intellect and / or memory due to repeated clinical or subclinical episodes of cerebral ischemia, infarction or hemorrhage. Click here for more information.
MVP: Mitral Valve Prolapse. Click here for more information.
Myocardial Infarction: Known as a heart attack. Myocardium = heart muscle; infarct = cell death caused by blocked blood flow; thus, death of an area of heart muscle. Click here for more information.
NATT: The National Alliance for Thrombosis & Thrombophilia. Click here for more information.
Phlebitis: Shortened term from thrombophlebitis. Click here for more information.
PE: Pulmonary Embolism. A clot that goes into your lungs making it difficult to breathe. Pulmonary embolism may be fatal. Click here for more information.
PET: Positron Emission Tomography. Click here for more information.
Petechiae: Bleeding into the skin. Click here for more information.
PFO: Patent Foramen Ovale. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a defect in the septum (wall) between the two upper (atrial) chambers of the heart. Specifically, the defect is an incomplete closure of the atrial septum that results in the creation of a flap or a valve-like opening in the atrial septal wall (see illustration). A PFO is frequent in everyone before birth but seals shut in about 80% of people. Click here for more information.
Platelets: Small particles in the blood that control bleeding; they form clusters to plug small holes in blood vessels and assist in the clotting process. Click here for more information.
Protein C deficiency: Protein C deficiency is an uncommon clotting disorder: approximately 1 per 700 people has inherited protein C deficiency. Since we all have 2 genes for every protein (one from mother and one from father), people can have 2 normal genes (healthy), one mutated protein S gene (heterozygous), or two mutated genes (homozygous).
Individuals with protein C deficiency are typically heterozygous. Homozygous individuals have such a severe clotting problem, that they typically die immediately after birth because of clotting everywhere; this is termed ” Purpura fulminans “. Protein C deficiency can be caused by more than 100 different mutations in the protein C gene.
This makes genetic testing for the defect very difficult, time-consuming, and expensive; it is therefore not done in routine clinical practice. A few academic institutions with a special interest in protein C deficiency perform genetic testing for research purposes. In some people protein C deficiency is due to acquired (non-inherited) causes, and may be temporary. Click here for more information.
Protein S deficiency: Protein S deficiency is an uncommon clotting disorder: approximately 1 per 500 to 1 per 3,000 people has inherited protein S deficiency. Since we all have 2 genes for every protein (one from mother and one from father), people can have 2 normal genes (healthy), one mutated protein S gene (heterozygous), or two mutated genes (homozygous). Individuals with protein S deficiency are typically heterozygous. Homozygous individuals have such a severe clotting problem, that they typically die immediately after birth because of clotting everywhere; this is termed “Purpura fulminans.”
Protein S deficiency can be caused by more than 100 different mutations in the protein S gene. This makes genetic testing for the defect very difficult, time-consuming, and expensive; it is therefore not done in routine clinical practice. A few academic institutions with a special interest in protein S deficiency perform genetic testing for research purposes. In some people protein S deficiency is due to acquired (non-inherited) causes, and may be temporary. Click here for more information.
Prothrombin deficiency: Prothrombin (= factor II) is one of the approximately 15 clotting proteins that is needed to stop us from bleeding. If you are low in prothrombin, you have a tendency to bleed.
Prothrombin 20210 mutation: The prothrombin 20210 mutation (= factor II 20210 mutation) is a very common mutation and is a mild risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (= DVT) and pulmonary embolism (= PE). Click here for more information.
PT: Prothrombin Time. The prothrombin time test, also called PT, helps measure how well your blood is able to clot. The test provides a control for long-term anticoagulant therapy that usually involves the use of a coumarin derivative (e.g., Coumadin®). Also known as Protime. Click here for more information.
PTT: Partial Thromboplastin Time. This test is used to evaluate part of the clotting system. It is used to monitor heparin therapy. Click here for more information.
RIND: Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit. The symptoms last for more than twenty four hours and resolve within three weeks. This term has been used to define what is nothing other than a mild ischemic stroke with no persisting neurological disability. Click here for more information.
Rx: Prescription.
SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Click here for more information.
SNAPS: Seronegative Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Click here for more information.
SPECT: Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Click here for more information.
Stroke: A condition that occurs when oxygen-rich blood is prevented from reaching an area of the brain; can lead to death of brain cells in that area. Click here for more information.
Sx: Symptoms.
TEE: Transesophageal Echocardiogram. Click here for more information.
Thrombolytic agents: Drugs that can break up large clots; also called clot busters. Click here for more information.
Thrombophlebitis: Name for tenderness, pain, redness, and swelling that occur when a clot and inflammation develop in a vein. Click here for more information.
Thrombophilia: A hereditary or acquired predisposition to develop blood clots. Click here for more information.
Thrombosis: A blood clot that forms within a blood vessel. When the blockage occurs in a heart artery, it is called a coronary thrombosis. Click here for more information.
Thrombus: A stationary blood clot that forms along the wall of a blood vessel. Click here for more information.
TIA: Transient Ischemic Attack. Often called “mini stroke”, but transient in nature – symptoms last less than 48 hours. Click here for more information.
TTP: Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Click here for more information.
Tx: Treatment.
UA: Urine Analysis. Click here for more information.
UCTD: Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. Click here for more information.
Vein: Any of the blood vessels that leads blood back to the heart.
Venogram: Click here for more information.
Vena Cava Filter: Click here for more information.
V/Q Scan: Ventilation Perfusion Scan. Click here for more information.
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Founded in 2005, the APS Foundation of America, Inc. is dedicated to fostering and facilitating joint efforts in the areas of education, public awareness, research, and patient services for Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) in an effective and ethical manner.
Information Sheets
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