Systemic lupus erythematosus and spontaneously arising anticoagulants

Of 36 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 3 were demonstrated to have an abnormality in their haemostatic mechanism. In 2 this was believed to be on the basis of an auto-antibody to the phospholipid of platelets in the prothrombin activator complex. In the third an inhibitor was directed against factor VIII.