The so-called obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome seems to have pathogenic, biologic, therapeutic, and evolution features somehow different from the ones observed in those patients who suffer from "classic" antiphospholipid syndrome. Although experience and scientific evidence seem to support this idea, there is a lack of information that allows us to suggest changes in the classification and/or therapeutic criteria. The European Forum on Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome has decided to carry on this project and it has chosen the Vall d'Hebron Hospital as the European Coordinating Centre. Many important Spanish and European hospitals will participate in this multicentric study.

Around 2-3% of reproductive-age couples suffer recurrent pregnancy loses. Almost 18% of couples that wish to have children suffer infertility problems. Simultaneously, 2-3% of all pregnant women are diagnosed with spontaneous loses. The expression of HLA molecules, specially type G, the degree of trophoblastic apoptosis, the outsourcing of new neoantigens such as phospholipids, the balance between Th1/Th2/Th3 cytokines, the type and quantity of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ lymphocytes, the kind and the activity of uterine NK cells (uNK) cells, the presence or absence of blocking antibodies, and other mechanisms play different roles in the achievement of the so-called "tolerant microenvironment" needed to develop a normal pregnancy. Therefore, both autoimmune and alloimmune mechanisms are important. We aim at studying which isolated, and specially associated, anomalies can be identified as risk markers to be able to evaluate possible treatments.

Cells that are chronically exposed to inflammatory signals are more prone to aging than those which are not exposed to such signals. Human vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) primary cultures activated with TNF-alpha probably increase the expression of ICAM and VCAM, synthesize ROS, and express senescence markers. It is not known what the principal intracellular pathway is (although it is thought that STAT may play a role) and it is unknown if one or more proinflammatory cytokines are needed to activate NF-KB. We are trying to find out the role that IFN-alpha and/or IL-6 and IL-1B may have on the aging inflammatory phenomena and we aim at detecting the intracellular signal pathways (STAT). We are also working on the characterization of the genes involved in these abnormal biologic responses.

Cells that are chronically exposed to inflammatory signals are more prone to aging than those which are not exposed to such signals. Human vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) primary cultures activated with TNF-alpha probably increase the expression of ICAM and VCAM, synthesize ROS, and express senescence markers. It is not known what the principal intracellular pathway is (although it is thought that STAT may play a role) and it is unknown if one or more proinflammatory cytokines are needed to activate NF-KB. We are trying to find out the role that IFN-alpha and/or IL-6 and IL-1B may have on the aging inflammatory phenomena and we aim at detecting the intracellular signal pathways (STAT). We are also working on the characterization of the genes involved in these abnormal biologic responses.