scholarly journals A brief history of antiphospholipid antibodies and antiphospholipid syndrome

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 31097
Author(s):  
Henrique Luiz Staub ◽  
Lia Portella Staub

AIMS: To review the historical reports on antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) from the early years of the 20th century; to outline the cardinal features of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) from 1983 on, including clinical criteria, etiopathogenesis and current therapy.METHODS: Literature review using PubMed. Articles on the history of aPL and APS were selected.RESULTS: The original aPL were described in patients with syphilis yet in 1906 by Wassermann. A first definition of lupus anticoagulant was proposed in 1963,while the anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) test was depicted twenty years later. The APS, initially reported by Hughes in 1985as the “aCL syndrome”, is one of the most prevalent acquired thrombophilia. Venous and arterial thrombosis, associated or not to pregnancy morbidity, comprise the main features. It is a novel disorder firstly associated to systemic lupus erythematosus. A primary form of APS was put forward in 1989, and many APS variants are currently known. Lifelong, full-dose anticoagulation is the mainstream for treatment of thrombotic APS. In obstetric APS, the combination of acetil-salicilic acid and enoxoparin has been a mostly effective therapy.CONCLUSIONS: The sequential characterization of aPL since Wassermann in 1906, and later of the APS in the 1980-thies, is a rather interesting example of how a new entity is sketched step by step. APS is an intriguing novel cause of autoimmune thrombophilia, with a complex pathogenesis and a plethora of clinical and laboratory abnormalities. Treatment is based on life-long anticoagulation. 

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 605.2-606
Author(s):  
F. Cheldieva ◽  
T. Reshetnyak ◽  
M. Cherkasova ◽  
N. Seredavkina ◽  
A. Lila

Background:The study of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), not included in the Sydney diagnostic criteria, in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is poorly understood.Objectives:To determine the frequency of detection of IgA-aCL and IgA-aβ2GP1 and IgG antibodies to β2GP1 domain 1 (IgG-aβ2GP1-D1) in patients with APS with and without SLE.Methods:ELISA and chemiluminescence assays (CMA) were used to test 63 sera of patients: 22 (35%) with primary APS (pAPS) and 41 (65%) patients with APS and with SLE (secondary APS (sAPS)), with mean age 38,0 [33,0 – 43,0] years and disease duration 4,0 [0,1 – 9,9]. Both methods were used to test of IgG/IgM-aCL and IgG/IgM-aβ2GP1. CMA was used for research IgG/IgM/IgA-aCL, IgG/IgM/IgA-aβ2GPI and IgG-aβ2GP1-D1. Of them 49 (78%) (18 – with pAPS; 31 – with sAPS) displayed major thrombotic events and 18 of 22 pregnant women had pregnancy morbidity in past history. Lupus anticoagulant (LA) positivity was in 9 out of 12 patients who had it determined. LA was not investigated due to anticoagulant therapy in the remaining 52 patients.Results:IgG/IgM-aCL and IgG/IgM-aß2GP1 were recorded in 44/18 and 50/17 patients by ELISA and in 55/19 and 59/16 by CMA, respectively.IgA-aCL positivity was found in 35 (56%) of 63 patients. Thirty IgA-positive patients were positive for IgG-aCL by ELISA: 22 – IgG-aCL – highly positive, 6 – medium positive and 2 – low positive patients. IgM-aCL by ELISA was detected in 13 (37%) of 35 IgA-aCL positive patients: 11 – highly positive, 1 – medium positive and 1 – low positive. IgA-aCL was combined with IgG-aCL in 34 patients and with IgM-aCL in 16 patients in the CMA. IgG-aß2GP1 in ELISA was detected in 32 patients with IgA-aCL (24 –highly positive, 5 – medium positive and 3 – low positive) and in 34 – in CMA. IgM-aß2GP1 was combined with IgA-aß2GP1 with the same frequency in both methods (in 13 patients).IgA-aß2GP1 was detected in 30 (48%) of 63 patients. They were combined with both IgG-aCL and IgG-aß2GP1 in all cases in both methods. IgM-aCL and IgM-aß2GP1 were detected in 14 and 11 of 30 patients with IgA-aß2GP1, respectively. The combination of IgA-aß2GP1 with IgG-aCL by ELISA was in 27 (in most cases highly positive – 20) and with IgM-aCL – in 10 (highly positive - 8). IgG-aß2GP1 was detected in 28 patients with IgA-aß2GP1 (high positive – 21) and in 11 patients with IgM-aß2GP1 (high positive –7).IgG-aß2GP1-D1 was revealed in 48 (76%) patients. It was combined with IgG-aCL – in 38, with IgM-aCL – in 15 patients by the ELISA. The combination of IgG-aß2GP1-D1 by CMA was as follows: with IgG-aCL – in 46, with IgM-aCL – in 17, and with IgA-aCL – in 33 patients. In most cases, IgG-aß2gp1-D1 was combined with highly positive aCL levels. IgG-aß2GP1-D1 positivity was associated with IgG-aß2GP1 positivity in 42 – by ELISA and 47 – by CMA, IgМ-aβ2GP1 – in 13 and 14 patients by ELISA and CMA, respectively, and IgA-aß2GP1 – in 29. Isolated IgG-aß2GP1-D1 positivity was not observed.Conclusion:The frequency of IgA-aCL detection was 56% (35 patients out of 63), IgA-aβ2GP1 – 48% (30 patients out of 63), IgG-aβ2GP1-D1 – 76% (48 patients out of 63). There was not isolated positivity of this “extra” criterial antibodies. The presence of IgA-aCL, IgA-aβ2GP1, IgG-aβ2GP1-D1 was associated with highly positivity of IgG/IgM-aCL and IgG/IgM- aβ2GP1.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (03) ◽  
pp. 423-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Seed ◽  
Kiran Parmar ◽  
Gary W. Moore ◽  
Sara E. Stuart-Smith ◽  
Beverley J. Hunt ◽  
...  

SummaryThe antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is the association of thrombosis and recurrent pregnancy loss and/or pregnancy morbidity with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Increased complement activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of APS in animal models. It was our objective to evaluate complement activation in patients with aPL or primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). We measured complement activation products, fragments Bb and C3a–desArg by ELISA in 186 aPL/PAPS patients and 30 healthy controls. All patients with aPL had significantly increased levels of complement activation products. Fragment Bb levels (mean, 95% CI); (thrombotic APS 0.54 units/ml, 0.31–0.83, obstetric APS 0.60 units/ml,0.39–1.02, isolated aPL 0.48 units/ml, 0.29–0.85, overall 0.39 units/ml, 0.33–0.47) and C3a–desArg levels (mean, 95% CI): (thrombotic APS 261 ng/ml, 219–311, obstetric APS 308 ng/ml, 243–391, isolated aPL 258 ng/ml, 193–337, overall 225 ng/ml, 202–251) were significantly higher compared to controls (fragment Bb 0.06 units/ml, 0.03–0.11, C3a–desArg 69 ng/ml, 50–92). There were correlations between Fragment Bb and C3a–desArg levels in all patients with aPL. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis showed increased fragment Bb and C3a–desArg levels had strong associations with the presence of persistent lupus anticoagulant (area under ROC: Bb 0.89, and C3a–desArg 0.90), dual and triple aPL positivity (Bb 0.71–0.82, C3a–desArg 0.71–0.80) but not with high titre anti-cardiolipin antibodies (Bb 0.62, C3a–desArg 0.65), or anti β2-glycoprotein 1 antibodies (Bb 0.66, C3a–desArg 0.67). Complement activation is present in all patient groups within this large cohort of patients aPL. This suggests it may have a major role in the pathogenesis of APS and merits further study.


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (01) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Machin ◽  
Ian J. Mackie ◽  
Hannah Cohen ◽  
Deepa R. Jayakody Arachchillage

SummaryAccurate diagnosis of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a prerequisite for optimal clinical management. The international consensus (revised Sapporo) criteria for obstetric APS do not include low positive anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti β2 glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies (> 99th centile) and/or certain clinical criteria such as two unexplained miscarriages, three non-consecutive miscarriages, late preeclampsia, placental abruption, late premature birth, or two or more unexplained in vitro fertilisation failures. In this review we examine the available evidence to address the question of whether patients who exhibit non-criteria clinical and/or laboratory manifestations should be included within the spectrum of obstetric APS. Prospective and retrospective cohort studies of women with pregnancy morbidity, particularly recurrent pregnancy loss, suggest that elimination of aCL and/or IgM aβ2GPI, or low positive positive aCL or aβ2GPI from APS laboratory diagnostic criteria may result in missing the diagnosis in a sizeable number of women who could be regarded to have obstetric APS. Such prospective and retrospective studies also suggest that women with non-criteria obstetric APS may benefit from standard treatment for obstetric APS with low-molecular-weight heparin plus low-dose aspirin, with good pregnancy outcomes. Thus, non-criteria manifestations of obstetric APS may be clinically relevant, and merit investigation of therapeutic approaches. Women with obstetric APS appear to be at a higher risk than other women of pre-eclampsia, placenta- mediated complications and neonatal mortality, and also at increased long-term risk of thrombotic events. The applicability of these observations to outcomes in women with non-criteria obstetric APS remains to be determined.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip G. de Groot ◽  
Rolf T. Urbanus

AbstractThe antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with a history of thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity, including fetal loss. APS is an autoimmune disease with a confusing name because the pathologic auto-antibodies are shown to be directed against the plasma protein β2-glycoprotein I and not against phospholipids. In fact, auto-antibodies that recognize phospholipids themselves are not associated with thrombosis but with infectious diseases. One of the intriguing questions is why autoantibodies against β2-glycoprotein I are so commonly found in both patients and the healthy. Several potential mechanisms have been suggested to explain the increased thrombotic risk in patients with these autoantibodies. In this overview, we will summarize our knowledge on the etiology of the autoantibodies, and we will discuss the evidence that identify autoantibodies against β2-glycoprotein I as the culprit of APS.


Rheumatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Sammut ◽  
Ei Phyu Htut

Abstract Background/Aims  Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder, which can be primary or associated with other conditions including systemic lupus erythematosus. Several studies have reported antiphospholipid antibodies, in patients with different vasculitides but little is known about the occurrence of APS and giant cell arteritis (GCA). We report a case of a patient diagnosed with concomitant extracranial GCA and APS. Methods  A 74-year-old lady presented to the Emergency department following a fall at home. On further questioning, she reported a rapid history of weight loss (4kg in the previous 4 weeks) but no classical features of giant cell arteritis. Her temporal arteries were pulsatile bilaterally, not tender or thickened. Cranial nerve examination including fundoscopy was normal. Her gait was apraxic, with short stride length and veering to the right with a narrow base. The rest of the examination was unremarkable. Results  Laboratory investigations showed an elevated CRP 98mg/L with a normal ESR 23mm/h, ferritin 380 ng/ml, negative ANCA and ANA, with an unremarkable myeloma screen. Microbiology investigations demonstrated negative serial blood cultures, hepatitis screen, and quantiferon. She subsequently underwent intracranial imaging [CT and MRI brain with Gadolinium] which did not demonstrate acute pathology. A PET CT confirmed features in keeping with a large vessel vasculitis without aneurysmal formation. She was treated with pulsed IV methylprednisolone 500mg for 3 consecutive days and started on 60mg oral prednisolone daily. Two days after starting this treatment she developed acute onset double vision: ophthalmologic examination revealed new onset right internuclear ophthalmolplegia (INO). A subsequent CT head angiogram showed non critical stenoses in aorta at origins of great vessels, left vertebral artery, and carotids. Interval MRI brain showed a new infarct in pons corresponding with her INO. Bloods revealed triple positive anti-phospholipid antibodies - [IgG anticardiolipin antibody 102 GPL (0-13), anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibodies 59.8 U/ml (0-18), Lupus anticoagulant detected]. She was commenced on warfarin [target INR 2.5] and aspirin. Due to mental health history and large vessel manifestations, she was started on IV Tocilizumab 8mg/kg and her prednisolone dose was reduced to 40mg when her CRP normalised. Following hospitalisation, she had persistent visual disturbance with ongoing poor spatial co-ordination. Although she remained ataxic, her functional mobility improved. She was transferred to a local stroke unit and was discharged home. Conclusion  In summary, this is a case of GCA and APS, treated with prednisolone, aspirin, warfarin and tocilizumab. There is increasing evidence describing the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with vasculitis. However, the role of these antibodies in GCA and the clinical significance remains unclear. This case reports highlights the need for physicians to consider APS in patients who have a history of GCA and subsequently develop arterial or venous embolic events. Disclosure  L. Sammut: None. E. Htut: None.


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (05) ◽  
pp. 1071-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Müller-Calleja ◽  
Antonia Köhler ◽  
Benjamin Siebald ◽  
Antje Canisius ◽  
Carolin Orning ◽  
...  

SummaryThe antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterised by thromboembolic events and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Here we show that three cofactor independent human monoclonal aPL can induce transcription of NLRP3 and caspase-1 resulting in inflammasome activation specific for NLRP3. This depends fully on activation of endosomal NADPH-oxidase-2 (NOX2) by aPL. Activation of NOX2 and subsequent inflammasome activation by aPL are independent from TLR2 or TLR4. While endosomal superoxide production induces caspase-1 and NLRP3 transcription, it does not affect prae-IL-1β transcription. Therefore, release of IL-1β occurs only after activation of additional pathways like TLR7/8 or TLR2. All effects exerted by the monoclonal aPL can be reproduced with IgG fractions of APS patients proving that the monoclonal aPL are representative for the APS. IgG fractions of healthy controls or patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus have no effect. In a mouse model of the APS we can show inflammasome activation in vivo. Furthermore, mononuclear cells isolated from patients with the APS show an increased expression of caspase-1 and NLRP3 which is accompanied by a three-fold increased serum concentration of IL-1β suggesting chronic inflammasome activation in APS patients. In summary, we provide further evidence that endosomal NOX2 can be activated by cofactor independent aPL. This leads to induction of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Our data indicate that cofactor independent aPL might contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of the APS.


Author(s):  
Ariela Hoxha ◽  
Amelia Ruffatti ◽  
Elena Mattia ◽  
Lauro Meneghel ◽  
Marta Tonello ◽  
...  

AbstractAntiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex (aPS/PT) antibodies are emerging as an important marker for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). We aimed to compare their performance with that of conventional antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) such as lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin (aCL), and anti-β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) in APS and to assess their frequency in APS-negative (APS-ne) patients.We considered 160 APS patients and 128 APS-ne patients with clinical criteria for APS but tested negative for conventional aPL. Immunoglobulin (Ig)G/IgM aPS/PT, IgG/IgM aCL, and IgG/IgM anti-β2GPI were detected using ELISA assay and LA with a series of coagulation tests.IgG aPS/PT were significantly associated with IgG aCL, IgG anti-β2GPI, and LA (p<0.0001 for all). IgM aPS/PT were significantly associated only with LA (p<0.0001) instead. There was a significant correlation between IgG aPS/PT and both IgG aCL and IgG anti-β2GPI levels (ρ=0.42 and ρ=0.40, respectively). Both IgG aPS/PT and IgM aPS/PT positivity significantly correlated with LA (ρ=0.44 and ρ=0.5, respectively). IgG and IgM aPS/PT were significantly more frequent in triple than in double and in single positivity (p<0.0001). According to multivariate analysis, IgG and/or IgM aPS/PT were independent risk factors for LA. APS/PT antibodies were found in 9.4% of the APS-ne patients vs. 2% of healthy control (p=0.043); those antibodies were significantly more frequent in the thrombosis with respect to the pregnancy morbidity subset (p=0.01).Our data attribute a clinical relevance to both IgG and IgM aPS/PT antibodies. In particular, the significant prevalence of aPS/PT in APS-ne patients suggests including them as additional laboratory criterion for APS.


F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Laura Bertolaccini ◽  
Giovanni Sanna

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also known as Hughes Syndrome, is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity in the presence of persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies. A patient with APS must meet at least one of two clinical criteria (vascular thrombosis or complications of pregnancy) and at least one of two laboratory criteria including the persistent presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), and/or anti-b2 glycoprotein I (anti-b2GPI) antibodies of IgG or IgM isotype at medium to high titres in patient’s plasma. However, several other autoantibodies targeting other coagulation cascade proteins (i.e. prothrombin) or their complex with phospholipids (i.e. phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex), or to some domains of β2GPI, have been proposed to be also relevant to APS. In fact, the value of testing for new aPL specificities in the identification of APS in thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity patients is currently being investigated.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Velásquez ◽  
Luisa F. Peláez ◽  
Mauricio Rojas ◽  
Raúl Narváez-Sánchez ◽  
Jesús A. Velásquez ◽  
...  

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by pregnancy morbidity or thrombosis and persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) that bind to the endothelium and induce endothelial activation, which is evidenced by the expression of adhesion molecules and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent endothelial dysfunction marked by a decrease in the synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO). These endothelial alterations are the key components for the development of severe pathological processes in APS. Patients with APS can be grouped according to the presence of other autoimmune diseases (secondary APS), thrombosis alone (thrombotic APS), pregnancy morbidity (obstetric APS), and refractoriness to conventional treatment regimens (refractory APS). Typically, patients with severe and refractory obstetric APS exhibit thrombosis and are classified as those having primary or secondary APS. The elucidation of the mechanisms underlying these alterations according to the different groups of patients with APS could help establish new therapies, particularly necessary for severe and refractory cases. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the differences in endothelial activation and dysfunction induced by aPL between patients with refractory obstetric APS and other APS clinical manifestations. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with polyclonal immunoglobulin-G (IgG) from different groups of patients n = 21), including those with primary (VTI) and secondary thrombotic APS (VTII) and refractory primary (RI+), refractory secondary (RII+), and non-refractory primary (NR+) obstetric APS. All of them with thrombosis. The expression of adhesion molecules; the production of ROS, NO, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and endothelin-1; and the generation of microparticles were used to evaluate endothelial activation and dysfunction. VTI IgG induced the expression of adhesion molecules and the generation of microparticles and VEGF. RI+ IgG induced the expression of adhesion molecules and decreased NO production. RII+ IgG increased the production of microparticles, ROS, and endothelin-1 and reduced NO release. NR+ IgG increased the production of microparticles and endothelin-1 and decreased the production of VEGF and NO. These findings reveal differences in endothelial activation and dysfunction among groups of patients with APS, which should be considered in future studies to evaluate new therapies, especially in refractory cases.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 930-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrien Devreese ◽  
Marc F Hoylaerts

Abstract Background: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an important cause of acquired thromboembolic complications and pregnancy morbidity. Its diagnosis is based on clinical and laboratory criteria, defined by strict guidelines. The original clinical and laboratory criteria for the identification of APS patients were published in 1999, in the so-called Sapporo criteria. In 2006 these criteria were revised, and recently more precise guidelines for analysis of the lupus anticoagulant have been provided. However, several questions related to the diagnosis of APS remain unanswered. Content: In addition to providing a historical perspective, this review covers several challenges in the diagnosis of APS with respect to clinical and laboratory features, while highlighting pathogenic pathways of the syndrome. We discuss ongoing dilemmas in the diagnosis of this complex disease. Although antiphospholipid antibodies are found in association with various clinical manifestations, the older established clinical criteria were not substantively altered in the 2006 update. Several laboratory tests recommended in the latest criteria, including phospholipid-dependent coagulation tests for the detection of the lupus anticoagulant and ELISAs for measuring anticardiolipin and β2-glycoprotein I antibodies, still show methodological and diagnostic shortcomings. In addition, antiphospholipid antibodies have been described against other antigens, but their clinical role remains uncertain. Conclusions: Despite updated APS criteria, diagnosis of this syndrome remains challenging. Further research on clinically relevant antibodies and standardization of their detection are needed to improve clinical risk assessment in APS.


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