Detrimental roles of TNF-alpha in the antiphospholipid syndrome and de novo synthesis of antiphospholipid antibodies induced by biopharmaceuticals against TNF-alpha

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by arterial and/or venous thrombosis and/or recurrent pregnancy losses. Obstetric APS (OAPS) is considered as a distinct entity from vascular APS (VAPS). In the absence of any additional disease, APS is designated as primary (PAPS), while the term secondary APS (SAPS) is used when other diseases are associated. Catastrophic APS (CAPS) is characterized by the rapid development of multiple thrombosis in various vital organs. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL Abs) is considered as a laboratory criterion for APS diagnosis. aPL Abs cause an increase in systemic and decidual TNF-alpha levels in experimental model of APS (eAPS), while paradoxically, administration of TNF-alpha blockers has been associated with de novo synthesis of aPL Abs in patients with various autoimmune diseases. While eAPS provides evidence for the fact that application of TNF-alpha blockers has beneficial effects, lack of randomized prospective studies is the main obstacle for consideration of TNF-alpha blockers administration as a therapeutic option not for all, but at least for selected cases of APS patients despite compelling evidence for detrimental roles of TNF-alpha for both VASP and OAPS. This article represents a review of previously published reports on detrimental roles of TNF-alpha in APS, reports on the application of anti-TNF-alpha agents in eAPS and articles that reported de novo synthesis of aPL Abs induced by biopharmaceuticals against TNF-alpha.