Prevalence and Consequences of Antiphospholipid Syndrome in Patients Aged 65 and Over With Ischemic Strokes (IS)

Stroke represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite significant progress in recent decades. In individuals under the age of 65, the etiologies of ischemic stroke (IS) are diverse, and management is well-established. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) accounts for 10 to 20% of the causes of stroke in this population. In elderly individuals, APS is not systematically investigated due to the predominance of embolic, atherosclerotic, and small vessel disease causes. However, delayed discovery of APS is not uncommon and is more frequently associated with the occurrence of arterial thrombosis. Moreover, the management of APS involves several challenges given the risk of recurrence of thrombosis and the potential association with conventional cardiovascular risk factors. The antithrombotic treatment consists of lifelong anticoagulation, excluding direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) d