P. Vila et al., PREVALENCE, FOLLOW-UP AND CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS, Thrombosis and haemostasis, 72(2), 1994, pp. 209-213
To date very few studies that analyze the prevalence of anticardiolipi
n antibodies (ACA) in healthy subjects have been reported. No data bas
ed on a systematic analysis of normal subjects with positive ACA is av
ailable. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalance o
f ACA, its clinical significance and relationship to the lupus anticoa
gulant (LA) and other autoimmune parameters in an apparently healthy p
opulation. 552 normal blood donors from a blood bank were randomly sel
ected. ACA positive donors who consented were monitored over a period
of twelve months and tested every three months. ACA (IgG and IgM isoty
pes) were quantitated by enzyme linked immuno-assay (ELISA). The preva
lance for IgG ACA in our donor population was estimated to be 6.5%, an
d 9.4% for IgM ACA, which is similar to the one previously reported fo
r IgG and slightly higher for IgM. It is worth noting that in our stud
y ACA positive donors exhibited a progressive negativization. Eight do
nors with IgG ACA and seven with IgM ACA remained positive for nine mo
nths. Five donors with IgG ACA and four with IgM ACA had family histor
y of thromboembolic disease. One donor with IgG ACA and two with IgM A
CA had had unexplained miscarriages in the past. We did not find any r
elationship between ACA and LA, nor between ACA positivity and the cli
nical and laboratory data studied. Pseudopositivity for lues was not f
ound. No thrombotic event occurred in donors that were positive for AC
A during the 12-month follow-up.