Is lupus like AIDS?

Lupus is not like AIDS, AIDS is when your immune system is under active, you are deficient.  With lupus your immune system is overactive, producing large amounts of antibodies.  Lupus is not contagious and AIDS is.  People who are diagnosed with AIDS die from their disease, people can expect to live a normal life with lupus.

Lupus anticoagulant

I was just diagnosed with the lupus anticoagulant. Does this mean I have systemic lupus?   

Anticoagulant Lupus is classified as a type of antiphospholipid antibody that has been detected with those who were diagnosed with Anticoagulant lupus.  Many people who produce these antibodies however do not have lupus.   Greater than 50%  of the people who have the following antibodies do not have lupus.  If a person has the anticoagulant antibodies doesn’t necessarily mean they would develop systemic lupus.

Primary Antiphospolipid Syndrome (PAPS) is used to describe someone who doesn’t have any signs or symptoms of SLE but they do produce the antibodies antiphosholipid much like lupus anticoagulant/ anti-cardiolipin antibodies which experience problems with blood clots, miscarriages, low platelets.  People who do have PAPS do not have lupus.

Is it possible to have antiphospholipid antibodies and not have systemic lupus?

The antibodies where found in people who had lupus, people who have systemic lupus have not been found to have the antibodies.

Is it possible to have antiphospholipid antibodies and not have symptoms related to them, i.e. blood clots, miscarriages or low platelets?