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Anticardiolipin antibodies in ischaemic heart disease: marker or myth?
K V Phadke1, R A Phillips, D T Clarke
1Department of Cardiology, North Staffordshire Hospital Centre, Stoke-on-Trent.
Objectives:
To assess the incidence and significance of anticardiolipin antibodies after myocardial infarction and in unstable angina.
Design:
A prospective study of all patients under 60 admitted to the coronary care unit over a 12 month period with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction who were followed up for a further 12 months. Patients admitted with unstable angina were similarly assessed but not followed up. Anticardiolipin antibody concentrations were compared with those of age matched controls.
Setting:
A district general hospital.
Patients:
307 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 160 patients with unstable angina.
Results:
Anticardiolipin antibody concentrations in the two patient groups did not differ significantly from those in the control groups. Antibody concentrations were not related to a history of angina or myocardial infarction nor were they related to subsequent cardiovascular complications.
Conclusion:
This study shows no significant association between anticardiolipin antibody concentrations and either myocardial infarction or unstable angina.