Superficial thrombophlebitis and anticardiolipin antibodies - Report of association

The aim of this study was to determine a possible association between recid ivist superficial thrombophlebitis and anticardiolipin antibodies. Forty-fi ve patients with two or more episodes of superficial thrombophlebitis in lo wer limbs (33 women and 12 men with ages ranging from 17 to 60 years, avera ge: 39.8) were studied. The control group was formed by 100 voluntary donor s from the blood bank (83 men and 17 women, age range: 21 to 59 years, aver age: 35.4). Anticardiolipin antibody concentrations were determined by enzy me-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For semiquantitative detection in hu man sera with use of QUANTA Lite(TM) ACA IgG/IgM-INOVA Diagnostic, Inc., an d positive values were considered as 15 GPL units/ml and 12.5 MPL units/ml for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM, respectively, as recommended by the tes t. The Odds Ratio method was chosen for statistical analysis with a confide nce interval (CI) of 95%. In 15 patients (33.3%) anticardiolipin antibody positivity was detected, wh ereas in 12 patients (26.7%) it occurred as immunoglobulin M (IgM) anticard iolipin and in 3 (6.7%) as immunoglobulin G anticardiolipin. In the control group, positivity was found in 7 patients (7%) for those antibodies. Furth ermore, the Odds Ratio = 6.64 with CI = 95% and values ranging from 2.48 to 17.82 (p<0.05) were significant, as well as for IgM/IgG anticardiolipin pr oportion with Odds Ratio = 5.09, CI = 95% and values varying from 1.33 to 1 9.54 (p<0.05). The authors conclude that there is a correlation between the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and recurrent superficial thromboph lebitis.