Fall in antiphospholipid antibody at time of thromboocclusive episodes in systemic lupus erythematosus

A relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) and thromboses has been proposed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In most instances, however, the thromboocclusive episodes were historic and did not coincide with the study of APLA. We studied 6 patients with SLE who, having had sequential determinations with high levels of APLA, were found to have falls in them coincident with thromboocclusive episode(s) and not attributable to treatment. Because our patients had recurrent thrombotic episodes, higher previous and subsequent titers of APLA, and other manifestations that have been similarly proposed to associate with APLA, our observations may indicate consumption of the APLA in the course of the thromboocclusive episode.