Testing lupus anticoagulants in a real-life scenario - a retrospective cohort study

Lupus anticoagulant (LAC) testing is challenging. Most data are derived from a well-controlled study environment with potential alterations to daily routines. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the capacity of various LAC screening tests and derived mixing tests to predict a positive result in subsequent confirmation tests in a large cohort of patients.

In 5832 individuals, we retrospectively evaluated the accuracy of the aPTT-A, aPTT-LA_screen, aPTT-FS and dRVVT_screen and of their derived mixing tests in detecting a positive confirmation test result within the same blood specimen. The group differences, degree of correlation and the predictive accuracy of LAC coagulation tests were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test, the Spearman-rank-correlation and by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) analysis. ROC-AUCs were compared with the Venkatraman´s permutation test.

The pre-test probability of patients with clinically suspected LAC was 36% in patients without factor deficiency or anticoagulation therapy. The aPTT-LA_screen showed the best diagnostic accuracy with a ROC-AUC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.82 - 0.86). No clear advantage of the dRVVT-derived mixing test was detectable when compared to the dRVVT_screen (P = 0.829). Usage of the index of circulating anticoagulant (ICA) did not improve the diagnostic power of respective mixing tests.

Among the parameters evaluated, aPTT-LA_screen and derived mixing test parameters were the most accurate tests. In our study cohort, neither other mixing test nor the ICA presented any further advantage in LAC diagnostics.