Rivaroxaban 'could be a safe treatment option for antiphospholipid syndrome'

The drug rivaroxaban could be an effective means of treating some patients with thromboticantiphospholipid syndrome, according to a new study. Led by University College London and funded byArthritis Research UK, the research has suggested that the drug - which works by inhibiting the formation of blood clots - could be a useful tool in the treatment of those with this serious condition, which affects approximately 15 per cent of patients withlupus and may also occur on its own. The danger of antiphospholipid syndrome Thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome is classified as a rare condition, but is probably underdiagnosed. It is characterised by the formation of potentially dangerous blood clots in the veins or the arteries. Some patients also suffer recurrent miscarriages, though that aspect was not the focus of this study. The RAPS trial only included a certain group of antiphospholipid syndrome patients who had venous blood clots and would have been offered standard warfarin treatment. Although rivaroxaban is well-established as a treatment for venous thromboembolism, it was not known whether it could also be useful in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome. Therefore, this new study was conducted to assess this question among 116 patients from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and St Thomas' Hospital. How can rivaroxaban help? Of the patients enrolled, 57 received treatment with rivaroxaban and 58 were given warfarin, an established blood-thinning therapy. Resul...
Source: Arthritis Research UK - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: news