Relation of antiphospholipid antibodies to thrombotic phenomena and clinical activity of systemic lupus erythematosus
Font, J.; Cervera, R.; Casals, F.J.; Bové, A.; Guerrero, A.; López-Soto, A.; Ingelmo, M.; Urbano-Márquez, A.
Medicina Clinica 90(12): 490-493
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7753 PMID: 3134583 Document Number: 310614
The incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) was studied in a series of 50 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); both lupus anticoagulant (LA), evaluated by several colorimetric techniques, and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), measured by ELISA, were analyzed. LA was detected by means of the diluted tissue thromboplastin inhibition time in 34% of cases, while it was only detected in 18% with the activated partial thromboplastin time. The incidence of ACA was 50%. Patients with LA and ACA were shown to have a significantly higher incidence of thrombotic phenomena (p < 0.004 and p < 0.025, respectively). Also, ACA were significantly related with the clinical activity of the disease (p < 0.005). It is concluded that: (a) The presense of APA is common in SLE; (b) Patients with APA have a significant incidence of thrombotic phenomena, and (c) APA show a significant relationship with SLE activity.