Antiphospholipid antibodies as a possible risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Immunobiology (1979) 2006-01, Vol.211 (9), p.689-694
• Main Authors: Pahor, Artur, Hojs, Radovan, Holc, Iztok, Ambrožič, Ales, Čučnik, Saša, Kveder, Tanja, Rozman, Blaž
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - blood; Antiphospholipid antibodies; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Atherosclerosis - etiology; Carotid Arteries - pathology; Carotid Artery Diseases - etiology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Intima-media thickness; Premenopause; Rheumatoid arthritis; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0171-2985; 1878-3279
• DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2006.01.004

Atherosclerosis shares many similarities with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, among them rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and antibodies against beta2-glycoprotein I (anti- β2GPI) have been detected in sera of RA patients in several studies. We demonstrated aCL and anti- β2GPI in a selected group of 70 patients with RA (premenopausal women, non-diabetic, non-hypertensive) and compared them with age- and sex-matched controls. There was a significant higher internal carotid artery intima-media thickness and number of plaques in RA patients compared to controls. aCL of IgG and IgM classes were present in 15.7% of RA patients as compared to 5% in the control group. Thirty percent of RA patients had anti- β2GPI of IgG, IgM and IgA classes compared to 7.5% in controls. Major differences were seen in IgG and IgA classes. Our results support the idea that aCL and anti- β2GPI represent an important risk factor for atherosclerosis in RA patients. Elevated levels of phosphatidylserine-dependent antiprothrombin antibodies did not contribute significantly to the general prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies.