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Objectives Determining the association between antiphospholipid antibodies and vascular events in systemic lupus erythematosusMethods This is a retrospective study including 91 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. Antiphospholipid antibodies profiles, including anticardiolipin IgG/IgM antibodies, anti-B2 glycoprotein I IgG/IgM antibodies and lupus anticoagulant were measured. Myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary thromboembolism, deep venous thrombosis, obstetric manifestations were recorded as vascular events of the antiphospholipid syndrome in lupus.Results Among the 91 systemic lupus erythematosus patients, 23 (25%) patients resulted positive for antiphospholipid antibodies. Lupus anticoagulant had the highest prevalence 22%, followed by anticardiolipin antibodies 16%, anti-B2 glycoprotein I 13% patients. 22% of patients developed vascular event during the mean of 5 years. Myocardial infarction occurred in 3%, stroke in 2%, pulmonary thromboembolism in 4%, deep venous thrombosis in 2%, and obstetric manifestations in 11%.Conclusions Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies, show a more severe clinical profile and warrant more care and surveillance of future vascular events during follow-up.