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Effect of anticardiolipin antibody in patients with recurrent fetal loss on thrombomodulin-dependent protein C

K Toyoshima1, T Makino, N Ozawa

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Japan.

Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis
|January 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Antiphospholipid syndrome may cause fetal death by decreasing protein C activity. Anticardiolipin antibodies might inhibit protein C activation, leading to recurrent fetal loss in affected patients.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Immunology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including recurrent fetal loss.
  • The mechanisms underlying fetal death in APS are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between protein C activity and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and recurrent fetal loss.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed protein C activity in patients with recurrent fetal loss and high ACA titers.
  • Examined the potential inhibitory effect of ACA on thrombomodulin-mediated protein C activation.

Main Results:

  • Protein C activity was found to be decreased in some patients with recurrent fetal loss and high ACA titers.
  • The findings suggest that ACA may interfere with the activation of protein C by thrombomodulin.

Conclusions:

  • Anticardiolipin antibodies may play a role in the pathogenesis of fetal death in antiphospholipid syndrome by inhibiting protein C activation.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms and explore potential therapeutic interventions.

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