Anticardiolipin antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL IgM & IgG), rheumatoid factor (RF) C-reactive protein (CRP) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were evaluated in 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease [12 patients with acute disease (gr 1), 14 patients with chronic disease (gr 2) and 10 normal subjects as control (gr 3)]. aCL IgM was significantly increased in gr 1 & gr 2 when compared with gr 3 (P < 0.001 & P < 0.010 respectively). aCL IgG was non significantly increased in gr 1 & gr 2 when compared with gr 3 (P < 0.076 & P < 0.022 respectively). In group 1 75% of the patients were positive for a CLIgM, 25% positive for a CLIgG, 75% for RF, 58.3% for CRP, 25% positive for ANA Shaggy pattern and 33.3% positive for ANA speckled pattern. In group 2, the percent of positive cases were 42.85% for a CLIgM, 14.28% for a CLIgG, 42.8% for RF, 57.14% for CRP, 14.25% for ANA shaggy pattern and 28.57% for ANA speckled pattern. In the control group, all antibodies proved to be negative in every case. There was positive correlation between a CL IgM & aCLIgG and duration of disease in gr 1 & gr 2. There was positive correlation between a CLIgM and ESR in gr 1. There was negative correlation between a CLIgG and ESR in gr 1. There was negative correlation between a CLILgM & ESR in gr 2. There was positive correlation between a CLIgG & ESR in gr 2. We conclude that the presence of a CL antibodies (IgM & IgG) correlate well with the activity of disease, so this draw our attention to the importance of a CL antibodies as a parameter for prognosis of the disease.