Association between non-thrombotic neurological and cardiac manifestations in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between non-thrombotic neurological and cardiac manifestations in patients with antiphospholipd syndrome (APS), as well as their connection with type and level of antiphospholipid antibodies.

Our prospective study comprises 333 patients: 218 with primary and 115 with secondary APS. Antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) analysis included detection of aCL(IgG/IgM), ß2GPI(IgG/IgM) and LA and served to evaluate associations with distinct neurological manifestations.

The presence of aCL IgG was more common (p=0.001) in SAPS and LA in PAPS patients (p=0.002). High ß2GPI IgM levels (>100PLU/ml) were more common in epilepsy (p=0.00001) in PAPS, and in transient ischaemic attack (p=0.029) in SAPS. High ß2GPI IgG levels (>100PLU/ml) were more common in epilepsy (p=0.035) in SAPS. Chorea, migraine and epilepsy occurred more often in SAPS and headache and depression in PAPS. We found statistical significance considering the presence of aCL IgG and acute ischaemic encephalopathy in SAPS, aCL IgM and epilepsy in SAPS, aCL IgM and migraine in PAPS, ß2GPI IgG and chorea in SAPS and ß2GPI IgM and TIA and epilepsy in PAPS. LA was linked to depression, transient global amnaesia and migraine in PAPS. Patients with non-stable angina pectoris were more likely to develop TIA in both PAPS and SAPS, epilepsy and transient global amnaesia in PAPS and acute ischaemic encephalopathy in SAPS. Patients with valve vegetations were more prone to epilepsy and depression.

Certain aPL type and levels are associated with distinct neurological non-thrombotic manifestation, suggesting their predictive role. There is strong link between some non-thrombotic neurological and cardiac manifestations in APS patients, suggesting the complexity and evolutionary nature of APS.