Blood Clotting

Blood clots are more common in people affected by lupus and is associated with the production of antibodies in the blood called antiphospholipid antibodies. These antibodies are abnormal proteins which can increase the tendency of the blood to clot. These clots most often occur in the legs (called deep venous thrombosis or DVT) and lungs (called pulmonary embolus or PE) and sometimes in the brain (stroke). The blood tests most often used to detect antiphospholipids are the anticardiolipin test and the lupus anticoagulant test.