Antibodies to factor XII and recurrent fetal loss in patients with the anti‐phospholipid syndrome

• Published in: British journal of haematology 2001-05, Vol.113 (2), p.550-552
• Main Authors: Jones, D. W., Mackie, I. J., Gallimore, M. J., Winter, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Habitual - complications; Abortion, Habitual - immunology; antibodies to factor XII; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin - analysis; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - complications; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - immunology; anti‐phospholipid syndrome; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - immunology; Autoantibodies - blood; beta 2-Glycoprotein I; Biological and medical sciences; Confidence Intervals; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; factor XII; Factor XII - immunology; Female; General aspects; Glycoproteins - immunology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin M - analysis; Immunopathology; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Medical sciences; Odds Ratio; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; recurrent fetal loss; Thrombosis - immunology; Venous Thrombosis - immunology
• ISSN: 0007-1048; 1365-2141
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2001.02776.x

Forty female patients with either primary anti‐phospholipid syndrome (n = 26) or systemic lupus erythematosus (anti‐phospholipid syndrome positive) (n = 14) were investigated for levels of factor XII, the presence of lupus anticoagulant and antibodies to cardiolipin, beta 2‐glycoprotein I and factor XII. Twenty‐one patients had a history of recurrent fetal loss (> 2, mean = 2·6). Lupus anticoagulant positivity showed a weak association with recurrent fetal loss (odds ratio = 1·1). While there was no association between the presence of antibodies to cardiolipin or beta 2‐glycoprotein I with recurrent fetal loss, antibodies to factor XII showed a strong and statistically significant association (odds ratio = 5·4, P = 0·025).