How often should lupus anticoagulant be checked in patients with SLE if prior was negative or if prior was positive?

The key question when considering retesting for any laboratory test, including antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), is: How would a positive or negative result change the patient's management or prognosis? This question helps guide the decision-making process by focusing on the potential clinical implications of the test result. If a positive or negative result wouldn't significantly alter the patient's management or outlook, then retesting may not be necessary.

For aPL-negative individuals retesting may be considered in high-risk groups, such as patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or scleroderma, before pregnancy or high-risk surgical procedures. Retesting is indicated if the patient develops new clinical features suggestive of ...