[The value of anticardiolipin antibody assessment]

Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL) are associated with the presence of several clinical conditions. To determine the clinical interest of their evaluation, we reviewed all the results of ACL determinations performed in our laboratory during 1990 and 1991. 266 analyses (232 patients) were carried out. Determinations of IgG and IgM type ACL were performed by ELISA. ACL values were positive or slightly positive in 40% of the analyzed samples. Diagnosis was mentioned as the grounds for 212 requests (186 patients). ACL were positive (> m + 3SD) in about 40% of patients with autoimmune disease or with at least two of the following pathologies: autoimmune disease, venous or arterial thromboembolism, recurrent abortion.