The clinical value of testing for antibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine (aPE) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

• Published in: Thrombosis research 2012-12, Vol.130 (6), p.914-918
• Main Authors: Bertolaccini, M.L, Murru, V, Sciascia, S, Sanna, G, Khamashta, M.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies to phosphatidylethanolamine; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - analysis; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - blood; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - immunology; Antiphospholipid syndrome; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - blood; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulin M - analysis; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Immunoglobulin M - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnosis; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Medical sciences; Multivariate Analysis; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phosphatidylethanolamines - immunology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - blood; Pregnancy Complications - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications - immunology; Pregnancy morbidity; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Thrombosis; Vasodilator agents. Cerebral vasodilators; Venous Thrombosis - blood; Venous Thrombosis - immunology
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2012.06.008

Abstract The value of testing for aPE in venous thrombosis and fetal death is in constant debate. We evaluated if testing for aPE has a diagnostic value in patients with SLE. Patients and Methods We included 224 patients. aPE were tested by an in-house ELISA using FCS. Results aPE were found in 41% of the patients. IgG and IgM aPE were more frequently found along with other aPL than in those negative for aPL (p = 0.003 and p = 0.01). IgG aPE were more frequently found in patients with definite APS than in those without (p = 0.003). aPE were more frequent in patients with thrombosis than in those without, particularly the IgG isotype (p = 0.03). When subdividing between venous and arterial thrombosis, only an association between IgG aPE with venous thrombosis was retained (p = 0.01). Titres of IgG aPE were significantly higher in patients with arterial or those with venous thrombosis, when compared to the patients without thrombosis (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001). Titres of IgM aPE were higher in patients with arterial thrombosis when compared to those without (p = 0.014). No associations were found between the presence of aPE and/or pregnancy morbidity. The presence of aPE did not correlate with that of any other aPL. After multivariate analysis all clinical associations failed to retain significance. Conclusions aPE are frequently seen in SLE and do not correlate with other routinely tested aPL. Although more prevalent, aPE is not an independent risk factor for thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity in patients with SLE.