Anticardiolipin antibodies as an independent risk factor for stroke in young Saudis

The role of the anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies as a predisposing factor for cerebral ischemia in young Saudi patients was investigated in a total of 61 cases (41 males, 20 females; mean age: 34 years). Ten patients had aCL antibodies which were predominantly of the IgG isotype. The mean age and sex ratio of the aCL-positive and aCL-negative cases were similar. The aCL-positive cases had significantly higher frequency of anti-DNA antibodies, lower frequency of HDL, and more prior stroke events and transient ischemic attacks than the aCL-negative cases (p < 0.05) on univariate analysis. However, with multivariate logistic regression analysis, only anti-DNA antibodies and HDL were significantly associated with aCL. Anticardiolipin antibodies represent an independent risk factor for stroke in young Saudi patients and aCL assessment should be considered in young patients with recurrent cerebral ischemia.