PREVALENCE AND KININOGEN-DEPENDENCE OF ANTIPHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE ANTIBODIES

Previous studies have demonstrated, by ELISA, the presence of antiphos phatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPEA) in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and primary antiphospholipid syndrome. H istorically, aPEA were always associated with anti-anionic phospholipi d antibodies (anti-anPLA). We have screened aPEA in a large population of patients (n = 122) suffering from various disorders all of which w ere compatible with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLA) . In this group only 33% of the total population studied had autoimmun e diseases. Sera were screened first for anti-anPLA. Of the 76 patient s negative for anti-anPLA, 18 were positive for aPEA (9 IgM, 5 IgG and 4 both). As the sole aPLA detected by ELISA, aPEA were represented in 14.8% of the total population studied. aPEA was associated mainly wit h thromboembolic episodes (n = 8) and with livedo reticularis (n = 8) associated or not with thrombosis. Seven of 9 aPEA-IgG were kininogen- dependent and 5 out of them were associated with livedo reticularis wi th or without thrombosis.