Clinical and immunological aspects of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)‎ in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract EN

Objective: To determine the level and frequency of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL), ?2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies (?2GP1) and protein C in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Also, to relate the presence of these antibodies to the antiphospholipid syndrome (APs) and other disease manifestations.

Methods: Sera from forty patients with SLE were tested with ELISA for measurement of ACL (IgG) antibodies, anti ?2GP1 antibodies and plasma protein C.

Medical history and examination were reviewed for the presence of APs manifestations.

Disease severity was assessed according to the SLE DAI.

Results: Higher than normal levels of antibodies against ACL were observed in 15/40 (37.5%) of SLE patients with a significant higher level in patients than controls (p<0.05).

Also, it was higher in SLE patients with APs 11/20 (55%) than those without APs = 4/20 (20%).

Antibodies to ? 2 GP1 were found in 28/40 (72.5%) in SLE.

It was 20 / 20 (100%) in patients with APs and 8/20 (40%) in patients without APs.

Also there was a highly significant elevation between the 2 groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The +ve predictive value of anti ?2GP1 antibodies test for APs in lupus patients (100%) is significantly higher than measuring ACL (55%).

So measuring these antibodies could be relevant in defining the association between ?2GP1 antibodies and repeated thrombotic subsets of patients with SLE.

Statistical analysis revealed significant fetal losses with no significant association with other APs manifestations.

As regards ACL there was a significant association with repeated fetal losses and cerebrovasclar accidents.