Beta-2-glycoprotein I antibodies in patients with thrombosis

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation 2003, Vol.63 (2), p.111-118
• Main Authors: EBELING, F., PETTERSSON, T., MUUKKONEN, L., VAHTERA, E., RASI, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin - blood; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - blood; antiphospholipid antibodies; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - blood; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - immunology; arterial thrombosis; beta 2-Glycoprotein I; Beta-2-glycoprotein; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood and lymphatic vessels; cardiolipin; Cardiology. Vascular system; Child; Child, Preschool; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Glycoproteins - blood; Glycoproteins - immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; lupus anticoagulant; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Pregnancy; stroke; thrombophilia; venous thrombosis; Venous Thrombosis - blood; Venous Thrombosis - immunology
• ISSN: 0036-5513; 1502-7686
• DOI: 10.1080/00365510310002086

The laboratory diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome currently requires two consecutive positive results in either lupus anticoagulant or anticardiolipin antibody assays. Antibodies against beta-2-glycoprotein I (a 2-GPI) are suggested as a new marker for the syndrome. The inclusion of a 2-GPI in the official diagnostic criteria has so far been precluded owing to lack of an international standard and also technical difficulties. Samples from 5367 consecutive patients sent to a national reference laboratory mainly because of various thrombotic events were studied. An IgG a 2-GPI ELISA assay was performed in addition to lupus anticoagulant (dRVVT and PTT-LA) and IgG anticardiolipin antibody determinations to evaluate patient groups in which the new assay might be of value. From a total of 90 patients, 2.2% of the samples were a 2-GPI positive; 51 patients had a 2-GPI as the only positive antiphospholipid antibody marker; 20 patients had had a venous thrombosis and 14 an arterial thrombosis, 4 had pregnancy complications and 2 had thrombocytopenia. Relatively young patients with cerebrovascular ischaemic events seemed especially to present sole a 2-GPI positivity. The a 2-GPI positivity remained fairly constant in the 23 patients from whom follow-up samples were taken. It is concluded that the IgG a 2-GPI assay seems to be a potentially important additional diagnostic tool for the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.