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Anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
A J de Brum-Fernandes1, W Cossermelli-Messina, C Bueno
1Department of Rheumatology, University of Sao Paulo, School of Medicine, Brazil.
Insights
Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were found in 16.48% of rheumatoid arthritis patients. ACA presence correlated with disease systematization and antinuclear antibodies, suggesting a role in rheumatoid arthritis morbidity or pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Serology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
- Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are associated with autoimmune conditions and thrombosis.
- The role of ACA in RA pathogenesis and clinical manifestations requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- To explore the association between ACA positivity and specific clinical and laboratory features in RA patients.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure ACA levels in 73 RA patients.
- Patients were categorized as ACA-positive or ACA-negative based on control group values.
- Clinical and laboratory data, including spontaneous abortions, CNS involvement, disease activity, platelet counts, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and rheumatoid factor, were compared between groups.
Main Results:
- ACA were detected in 16.48% of RA patients.
- A significant association was found between ACA positivity (IgG, IgM, or both) and disease systematization.
- ACA positivity also showed a significant association with the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA).
Conclusions:
- Anticardiolipin antibodies may be present in a subset of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- ACA positivity in RA is associated with disease systematization and the presence of ANA.
- These findings suggest a potential role for ACA in the morbidity or pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Abstract:
Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were assayed by ELISA in 73 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Twelve (16.48%) patients showed levels of ACA three standard deviations above the value of the control group and were considered positive; these patients were compared to the group with ACA within the normal levels regarding the following clinical and laboratorial characteristics: spontaneous abortions, central nervous system involvement, systematization and activity of disease, alterations in platelet counts, presence of antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor. Significant statistical association could be demonstrated between systematization and presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and positiveness to ACA (IgG, IgM or both). These findings might indicate that ACA in patients with RA could have relevance to morbidity of disease or perhaps to its pathogenesis.