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Anticardiolipin antibodies: a study in cerebral venous thrombosis
R Christopher1, D Nagaraja, N S Dixit
1Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India.
Insights
Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) are more prevalent in Indian patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). This study suggests aCL may be a risk marker for CVT, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Thrombosis Research
Background:
- Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) are linked to increased thrombosis risk.
- Limited data exists on aCL prevalence in Indian patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of aCL in Indian CVT patients.
- To evaluate the clinical significance of aCL in CVT.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 31 CVT patients and 31 healthy controls.
- aCL (IgG and IgM) levels were measured using ELISA.
- Exclusion of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or related autoimmune disorders.
Main Results:
- aCL detected in 22.6% of CVT patients versus 3.2% of controls.
- Five CVT patients had both IgG and IgM aCL; two had only IgG aCL.
- No significant differences in clinical characteristics or risk factors between aCL-positive and negative CVT groups.
Conclusions:
- Anticardiolipin antibodies are a potential risk marker for cerebral venous thrombosis.
- Larger studies are required to elucidate the role of aCL in CVT pathogenesis.
Objectives:
Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) have been recognized as a marker for an increased risk of thrombosis. There are no documented reports from India on the prevalence of aCL in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Our study aimed at establishing the prevalence of these antibodies in patients with CVT and evaluating their clinical significance.
Subjects And Methods:
Thirty-one patients with CVT diagnosed by angiography and/or cranial CT were investigated for the presence of aCL along with 31 age- and sex-matched normal controls. All subjects had no overt evidence of systemic lupus erythematosis or related autoimmune disorders. The titres of IgG and IgM type of aCL were estimated in the sera using a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
Anticardiolipin antibodies were detected in 22.6% of CVT patients compared to 3.2% of normal controls (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 75.65). Five CVT patients had both IgG and IgM antibodies, and 2 had only IgG antibodies. The aCL positive group did not differ from the aCL-negative group with respect to the clinical characteristics and the demographic and risk factor profile.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that anticardiolipin antibodies are a risk marker for cerebral venous thrombosis. Further studies on a larger group of patients are needed to establish the role of aCL in the pathogenesis of CVT.