Infective endocarditis, rheumatoid factor, and anticardiolipin antibodies.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Infective endocarditis is a serious infection affecting heart valves.
• Anticardiolipin antibodies and rheumatoid factor are sometimes associated with infections and autoimmune conditions.
• The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test is used for syphilis detection but can yield false positives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and levels of anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with infective endocarditis.
• To assess the correlation between anticardiolipin antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and VDRL test results in these patients.
• To investigate the distinctness of B cell antibody production in infective endocarditis.

Main Methods:

• Serum samples from 22 infective endocarditis patients were analyzed.
• Tests included detection of antibodies to cardiolipin, rheumatoid factor (latex test), and VDRL.
• Prevalence, antibody levels, and correlations were statistically evaluated.

Main Results:

• Anticardiolipin antibodies were elevated in only 18% of patients, often at low levels.
• The VDRL test was positive in two patients with negative results for other antibodies.
• A clear discordance was observed between anticardiolipin antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and VDRL test results.

Conclusions:

• The production of anticardiolipin antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and VDRL reactivity appears to be separate and distinct in infective endocarditis.
• Elevated anticardiolipin antibodies are not consistently found in infective endocarditis.
• No thrombotic events were reported in the study cohort, aligning with findings in other infections associated with anticardiolipin antibodies.