Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Dr. Kaye received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of California, San Diego in Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences. After graduating from New York Medical College, he completed his internship and residency training in pathology at Harbor - UCLA Medical Center.
The antiphospholipid syndrome is a
disorder of the immune system that is characterized by excessive clotting of
blood and/or certain complications of pregnancy (premature miscarriages, unexplained fetal death, or premature birth) and
the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (cardiolipin or lupus anticoagulant
antibodies) in the blood. Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome have developed
abnormal symptoms while having antiphospholipid
antibodies that are detectable with blood testing.
Antiphospholipid syndrome is also called phospholipid antibody
syndrome. Antiphospholipid syndrome has been referred to as Hughes syndrome in honor of the doctor who first described it.
It is important to note that antiphospholipid antibodies
can also be found in the blood of individuals without any disease process. In
fact, antiphospholipid antibodies have been reported in approximately 2%
of the normal population. Harmless antiphospholipid antibodies can be detected
in the blood for a brief period occasionally in association with a wide variety
of conditions, including bacterial, viral (hepatitis, HIV), and parasite (malaria) infections.
Certain drugs can cause antiphospholipid antibodies to be produced in the blood,
including antibiotics, cocaine, hydralazine, procainamide, and quinine.
Nevertheless, the antiphospholipid antibody (a protein) is not
considered a normal blood protein and has been found in patients to be associated with
a number of illnesses. These illnesses include abnormal clotting
(thrombosis) of arteries (stroke, infarction) and/or veins (phlebitis), premature
miscarriages (spontaneous abortions), abnormally low blood platelet counts
(thrombocytopenia), purplish mottling discoloration of the skin (livedo reticularis), migraine headaches, and a rare
form of inflammation of the nervous tissue of the brain or spinal cord,
called transverse myelitis.
Antiphospholipid antibodies have also been detected in over half of patients
with the immune disease systemic
lupus erythematosus.
Researchers are recently also finding that there are
patients with slowly progressive memory problems and patients with a form of
"atypical multiple sclerosis" and antiphospholipid antibodies
detectable in their blood.
Migraine is usually periodic attacks of headaches on one or both sides of the head. These may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity of the eyes to light (photophobia), increased sensitivity to sound (phonophobia), dizziness, blurred vision, cognitive disturbances, and other symptoms. Treatments for migraine headache include therapies that may or may not involve medications.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a vein located deep in the muscles of the legs, thighs, pelvis (lower torso), or arms. The most common symptoms of a deep vein thrombosis are swelling and pain in the leg that has the blood clot. A DVT is difficult to diagnose without specific tests in which the deep vein system can be examined.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of body tissues caused by autoimmune disease. Lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous
system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus.
When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE).
A miscarriage is any pregnancy that ends spontaneously before the fetus can survive. Miscarriage usually occurs before the 13th week of pregnancy. The cause of a miscarriage cannot always be determined. The most common causes of a miscarriage in the first trimester are collagen vascular disease (lupus), hormonal problems, diabetes, chromosomal abnormalities, and congenital abnormalities of the uterus.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
The complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered blood
tests. The complete blood count is the calculation of the cellular (formed
elements) of blood. These calculations are generally determined by special
machines that analyze the different components of blood in less than a minute.
A major portion of the complete blood count is the measure of the
concentration of white blood cells, red blood cells, and
platelets in the blood.
How is the complete blood count test (CBC) done?
The complete blood count (CBC) test is performed by obtaining a few milliliters (one
to two teaspoons) of
blood sample directly form the patient. It can be done in many settings
including the doctor's office, laboratories, and hospitals. The skin
is wiped clean with an alcohol pad, and then a needle is inserted through the
area of cleansed skin into to patient's vein (one...
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