Related Experiment Videos
Thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus. Relation to the presence of circulating anticoagulants
In an earlier report on the kidney in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we described a subset of patients with circulating anticoagulants; many had glomerular and arteriolar thrombosis in the absence of necrosis and subendothelial deposits. The present study extends these observations to a larger group of patients with SLE and a circulating anticoagulant, and compares its findings with those in patients with SLE without evidence of an anticoagulant. It demonstrates (1) a higher prevalence of clinically recognizable thrombotic events in the venous and arterial circulations in patients with SLE and a detectable anticoagulant; (2) a probable shortening in life span; (3) a higher prevalence of glomerular thrombi; (4) elevated levels of factor VIII antigen and von Willebrand factor; and (5) significantly lower platelet counts and decreased in vitro platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, and collagen. Since prednisone treatment often results in improvement or disappearance of a prolonged partial thromboplastin time, the test most commonly used for screening of a circulating anticoagulant, we suggest that the prevalence of this abnormality may be underestimated in patients with SLE.
In an earlier report on the kidney in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we described a subset of patients with circulating anticoagulants; many had glomerular and arteriolar thrombosis in the absence of necrosis and subendothelial deposits. The present study extends these observations to a larger group of patients with SLE and a circulating anticoagulant, and compares its findings with those in patients with SLE without evidence of an anticoagulant. It demonstrates (1) a higher prevalence of clinically recognizable thrombotic events in the venous and arterial circulations in patients with SLE and a detectable anticoagulant; (2) a probable shortening in life span; (3) a higher prevalence of glomerular thrombi; (4) elevated levels of factor VIII antigen and von Willebrand factor; and (5) significantly lower platelet counts and decreased in vitro platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, and collagen. Since prednisone treatment often results in improvement or disappearance of a prolonged partial thromboplastin time, the test most commonly used for screening of a circulating anticoagulant, we suggest that the prevalence of this abnormality may be underestimated in patients with SLE.