Risk of thrombosis in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract EN

Objective: To investigate plasma levels of natural anticoagulant proteins such as protein C and antithrombin III in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) positivity, so as to evaluate the possible relationship with an increased risk of thrombotic events in RA.

Methods: Forty female RA patients were evaluated for the occurrence of thrombotic events, aCL levels, total and free protein S, protein C and antithrombin III concentrations were measured.

Patients were divided into aCL– positive and aCL-negative patients.

20 normal females were taken as a control group.

Results: Higher rates of venous and/or arterial thrombosis were diagnosed in RA patients as compared to controls (p< 0.01).

Lower free protein S levels were found in aCL– positive RA patients as compared to both aCL negative patients and controls (p< 0.001).

Protein C, levels were found to be in the normal range in all patients and controls.

Conclusion: there is an association between aCL positivity and decreased levels of free protein S in RA patients and this may represent one of the risk factors for thrombotic events.