Frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and their clinical associations
Abstract
Background: Antiphospholipid syndrome can occur as an isolated diagnosis condition or associated with other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). This study aimed to determine frequency of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies in SLE patients and to evaluate their relation to disease manifestations, activity index and damage index of SLE.
Patients and methods: This study included a total of 73 SLE patients. They were 63 females and 10 males, their ages ranged from 18-49 years. Full history taking, complete clinical examination, disease activity assessment by SLEDAI-2K score and organ damage assessment by SLICC/ACR damage index were done to all study patients. Human lupus anticoagulant (LA), IgM and IgG anticardiolipin antibodies(aCL) were measured by double antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: We found that aCL-IgM (21.9%) was the most common aPL antibody in the patients of our study followed by LA (17.8%) then aCL-IgG (16.4%). There was statistically significant difference in percentage of positive antiphospholipid antibodies as regard the disease activity index (SLEDAI-2K) , SLICC/ ACR damage index , venous thrombosis, stillbirth , abortion, and cerebrovascular manifestations.
Conclusion: aPL antibodies are not infrequent finding in SLE patients. There was a significant correlation between aPL antibodies and both disease activity, and degree of organ damage. Also, our results clarified the correlation between positive aPL serology and various thrombotic events and pregnancy losses in SLE patients.