Species specificity of lupus-like anticoagulants

Mixing studies using activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) technique were performed on 14 patients with lupus-like anticoagulants (LLACs) using human, equine, bovine, porcine and canine plasma. Eleven patients significantly prolonged the APTT of normal human plasma (patient/control ratio = greater than 1.15) but no patient inhibited bovine plasma. However, with one exception, equine APTT ratios were concordant with human ratios. Seven of fourteen patients also inhibited porcine plasma but in each case porcine APTT ratios were lower than their human or equine counterparts. None of five patients tested inhibited canine plasma. Collectively, these results suggest heterogeneity among LLACs at least with regard to species specificity.