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Anticardiolipin antibodies in unselected autoimmune rheumatic disease patients
Insights
This study found that antibodies to cardiolipin (anti-CL) are present in some patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD), but not significantly correlated with thrombosis. Anti-CL antibodies were more common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) are complex conditions often associated with autoantibodies.
- Cardiolipin antibodies (anti-CL) are a type of autoantibody with potential implications in autoimmune disorders.
- Accurate quantification of anti-CL is crucial for understanding their role in disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively determine IgG and IgM antibodies to cardiolipin (anti-CL) using a new ELISA method.
- To investigate the prevalence of anti-CL in patients with various autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD), thromboembolic phenomena (TEP), and healthy blood donors (HBD).
- To explore correlations between anti-CL and clinical features in ARD patients.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of a sensitive and specific ELISA for anti-CL quantification.
- Study cohort included 361 ARD patients, 69 TEP patients, and 267 HBD.
- Analysis of anti-CL prevalence and correlation with clinical and laboratory findings.
Main Results:
- Anti-CL antibodies were detected in 11.6% of ARD patients, 4.3% of TEP patients, and 2.3% of HBD.
- Prevalence was higher in ARD patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and overlap syndromes.
- Significant correlations were found with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, seizures, and immune hyperreactivity markers (ANA, anti-dsDNA, etc.).
Conclusions:
- The new ELISA method allows for sensitive and specific detection of anti-CL.
- Anti-CL antibodies are found in a subset of ARD patients, particularly those with SLE and CNS involvement.
- No significant correlation was found between anti-CL and thrombotic events, hematologic disorders, or recurrent abortions in this ARD cohort.
Abstract:
Quantitative determination of IgG and IgM antibodies to cardiolipin (anti-CL) was performed with a newly developed sensitive and specific ELISA method. We studied a cohort of 361 unselected patients with various autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD), 69 patients with thromboembolic phenomena (TEP) unassociated with ARD, and 267 healthy blood donors (HBD). Anti-CL of at least one immunoglobulin class were found in 42 (11.6%) of the ARD patients, in 3 (4.3%) of the TEP patients (2 with myocardial infarction and 1 with pulmonary emboli), and in 6 (2.3%) of the HBD. In ARD patients anti-CL were more prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and overlap syndromes. Significant correlations included CNS involvement (particularly seizures) and features of immune hyperreactivity (splenomegaly-lymphadenopathy, ANA, and antibodies to Ro(SSA), U1-nRNP, and double-stranded DNA). No statistical correlation could be demonstrated between the presence of anti-CL and thrombotic events, hematologic disorders, or recurrent abortions in the ARD patients.