Anticardiolipin and anti-beta sub(2)GPI antibodies in a large series of European patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Prevalence and clinical associations

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of rheumatology 1999-12, Vol.28 (6), p.344-351
• Main Authors: Domenico Sebastiani G., Galeazzi, M, Tincani, A, J-C, Piette, Font, J, Allegri, F, Mathieu, A, Smolen, J, de Ramon Garrido E., Fernandez-Nebro, A, Jedryka-Goral, A, Papasteriades, C, Morozzi, G, Bellisai, F, de, Pita O, Marcolongo, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0300-9742

Objective: To test the prevalences and the clinical associations of anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta sub(2)GPI (abeta sub(2)GPI) antibodies in a large series of European patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: 574 SLE patients from 7 European countries were tested for aCL and abeta sub(2)GPI by ELISA methods. Results: aCL of IgG, IgM, and IgA isotypes were detected in 22.8%, 14%, and 13.9% of the patients, respectively. IgG and IgM abeta sub(2)GPI were detected in 20% of the patients. The presence of aCL was highly associated with the presence of abeta sub(2)GPI. Medium-high titer IgG aCL and abeta sub(2)GPI were associated with thrombosis, with similar sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. When present at medium-high titer, IgG aCL were associated with thrombocytopenia, IgM aCL with hemolytic anemia, and cerebrovascular accidents, IgA aCL with livedo reticularis and Raynauds phenomenon. Conclusions: aCL, when present at medium- high titer, are as important as abeta sub(2)GPI, as a risk factor for thrombosis. Medium-high titer aCL, but not abeta sub(2)GPI, are associated with other clinical features of the antiphospholipid syndrome.