[The antiphospholipid syndrome in systemic connective tissue diseases]

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Immunology
• Clinical Medicine
• Serology

Context:

• Systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTD) encompass a range of autoimmune disorders.
• Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a condition characterized by blood clots and pregnancy complications, often associated with autoimmune diseases.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prominent SCTD where APS can manifest.

Purpose:

• To determine the incidence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in patients with systemic connective tissue disease (SCTD).
• To investigate the prevalence of APS specifically within the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient cohort.
• To identify serologic markers associated with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Summary:

• Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were detected in 38.07% of 80 SLE patients using ELISA.
• Clinical manifestations of APS were observed in 67.74% of SLE patients with aPL, most commonly thrombocytopenia and vascular thrombosis.
• IgG antibody isotype was the most frequent finding in SLE patients (66.66%). In Sjogren's syndrome patients, aPL were found in 5 of 7, with 2 exhibiting mild APS manifestations.

Impact:

• Highlights the significant co-occurrence of APS in SLE and other SCTDs.
• Emphasizes the importance of serological testing for antiphospholipid antibodies in SCTD patients for early APS diagnosis.
• Provides data on the clinical presentation and antibody profiles in APS associated with SLE and Sjogren's syndrome.