ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES (IGG AND IGA) IN WOMEN WITH RECURRENT FETAL LOSS CORRELATE TO CLINICAL AND SEROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SLE

Aim of study. We investigated to which degree IgG, IgA and IgM anti-ca rdiolipin antibodies (aCL) are associated in recurrent abortion or lat e fetal death with other signs of autoimmune disease and in particular SLE. Material and methods. Serological variables typical of SLE and o f the anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome were measured once eight to 16 weeks after the last fetal loss in 158 women with recurrent abortio n or late fetal death; women with manifest autoimmune rheumatic diseas e were excluded. Results. (1) Positive values, i.e. above the 99th per centile of reference material, of IgG aCL and IgA aCL were observed in 4% and 7%, respectively, whereas 26% had positive values of IgM aCL. (2) IgG aCL and IgA aCL but not IgM aCL correlated to anti-nuclear ant ibodies and to anti-double stranded DNA. (3) Anti-double stranded DNA, IgG aCL and IgA aCL but not IgM aCL correlated to previous occurrence of thrombosis. (4) ANA correlated to lower blood platelet concentrati ons and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Conclusions. Women wit h recurrent abortion or late fetal death who have higher but not neces sarily abnormally high levels of IgG aCL or IgA aCL constitute a group with increased occurrence of clinical and serological characteristics of SLE. We suggest that these women be kept under surveillance for fu ture development of autoimmune disease especially SLE. The women with high IgM aCL constitute another group without these characteristics.