[Antiphospholipid antibodies in megakaryocytic thrombopenias]

We investigated the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) in megakaryocytic thrombopenias in order to establish their clinical significance and prognostic value. We studied 82 thrombopenic patients: 38 women and 44 men (age: 17-91 years). We assessed circulating lupus antibody (LA) through thromboplastin inhibition test (TIT), anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL) through ELISA and antiplatelet antibodies through flow cytometer. We conducted a statistical study RSIGMA, comparing patients with ACL + against ACL-. We found ACL positive in 21%, LA in 33% and antiplatelet antibodies in 42%. We observed a direct correlation (p < 0.05) between ACL and LA and between ACL and anticore antibodies, but not between ACL and antiplatelet antibodies. There was also a significant correlation between ACL and abortion, thrombosis and bleeding in thrombopenic patients. We conclude that APAs are present in 39% of the megakaryocytic thrombopenias and that they are not correlated with antiplatelet antibodies. Positivity of APA in thrombopenic patients is associated to poor prognosis and long term follow-up.