Abu-Shakra M, Gladman DD, Urowitz MB, Farewell V
Anticardiolipin antibodies in systemic lupus
erythematosus: clinical and laboratory correlations
Am J Med
(Dec) 99:624-628 1995
A prospective cohort study in a single center examined the link between
anticardiolipin antibodies and features of the antiphospholipid syndrome
(thrombocytopenia, prolonged PTT, positive direct Coombs test, arterial and
venous thrombosis, spontaneous abortions, vasculitic skin ulcers, livedo
reticularis, and renal disease) in SLE patients. 47% of patients had an
elevated antibody level; its presence correlated with laboratory but not
clinical features of the antiphospholipid syndrome. Only prolonged aPTT was
associated with thrombosis. Prolonged PTT should be used rather than
elevated anticardiolipin antibodies for identifying SLE patients with a high
risk of thrombosis. The link between prolonged PTT and thrombosis may
indicate that only those antibodies with lupus anticaogulant activity are
pathogenic. These results contrast with findings in patients with
anticardiolipin antibodies without SLE (primary antiphospholipid syndrome),
in whom the presence of antibodies is predictive of thrombosis.
(Leehey)
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Proteinuria/Hematuria :
Lupus nephritis