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Prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in the elderly British population
K K Chakravarty1, R E Gray, M Webley
1Oxford Regional Rheumatic Disease Research Centre, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Insights
In healthy elderly individuals, anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were rarely detected at elevated levels. The presence of significant aCL may indicate autoimmune disease rather than normal aging.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gerontology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- Autoantibodies can be present in aging populations.
- Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) are associated with autoimmune conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in healthy elderly individuals.
- To determine if elevated aCL levels are associated with normal aging or autoimmune pathology.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 100 healthy elderly participants.
- Measurement of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) using ELISA.
- Comparison of aCL levels with laboratory reference ranges and other autoantibodies.
Main Results:
- Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were not detected in 63% of subjects.
- In 37% of subjects, aCL titres were within the normal adult reference range.
- Significant titres of other autoantibodies (e.g., rheumatoid factor, antimitochondrial antibody) were detected in varying percentages.
Conclusions:
- Abnormally elevated anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) levels are not characteristic of healthy aging.
- The presence of significant aCL in the elderly may suggest underlying autoimmune-mediated pathology.
- Further investigation is warranted for elderly individuals with elevated aCL.
Abstract:
In a cross-sectional study of 100 healthy elderly individuals, anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were measured using an ELISA technique. aCL were not detected in the majority of subjects (63%), and in the remaining 37% titres were within the laboratory reference range (mean +5 standard deviations) previously determined for adults of all ages. In contrast, significant titres of IgM rheumatoid factor were found in 10%, antimitochondrial antibody in 13%, antinuclear factor in 5%, anti-smooth muscle antibody in 18%, antiparietal cell antibody in 10%, and antireticulin antibody in 1%. Antibodies to single or double-stranded DNA were not detected in any subject. We conclude that, although other auto-antibodies may be present in the healthy aging population in Britain, abnormally elevated levels of aCL antibody do not occur, and when present may be an indicator of autoimmune-mediated pathology.