OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES - A 10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF 52 PATIENTS

We report a 10-year follow-up on 52 patients with raised levels of ant icardiolipin antibodies (aCL) who were first seen at our tertiary refe rral centre in 1986. The clinical and serological features of these 52 patients are described. Thirty-one patients had the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in 1986. Nine of these patients (29%) had further throm botic events during the follow-up period. Of the other 21 aCL positive patients without clinical manifestations of APS, 11 (52%) developed t he syndrome over this period. Five patients (10%) died during the foll ow-up. Close monitoring of patients with connective tissue diseases an d aCL is essential as the likelihood of developing antiphospholipid sy ndrome is high.