ANTIBODIES TO PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN PRIMARY PU LMONARY-HYPERTENSION

Cardiolipin antibodies (CAb) were measured in 14 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). These included 9 females and 5 males (m ean age 36.8+/-9.6 years) with duration of PPH 4.9+/-4.1 years. No ris e In CAb IgG was noted, whereas CAb IgM arose to 13.0-42.5 MPI in 3 pa tients. 2 lethal outcomes were registered in the group of patients wit h normal CAb levels and 2 in the group with elevated CAb (20% against 66.7%, respectively), The deaths were caused by progressive circulator y failure and venous occlusion, pulmonary artery embolism, respectivel y. It is suggested that IgM CAb increase may indicate involvement of i mmune disorders in PPH onset and the same nature of the mechanisms und erlying some PPH subtypes and autoimmune rheumatic affections.