Rheumatology Medical News about mixed connective tissue disease;pulmonary hypertension;anti-(beta)2-glycoprotein l antibodies

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The frequency of anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies is low and these antibodies are associated with pulmonary hypertension in mixed connective tissue disease
Lupus, 05/14/09

Hasegawa EM et al. – Study demonstrates that the high to moderate titres of anti-β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2-GPI) as well as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) were rare in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and these antibodies may be correlated with the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in these patients

Methods

Objective of this study was to:
- evaluate the prevalence of antiphospholipid Abs, mainly anti-β2-GPI, and
- their possible clinical and laboratory relevance in MCTD
39 consecutive pts with MCTD from Jan, 2005, to March, 2007, and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls
IgG and IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-β2-GPI were measured by ELISA
Lupus anticoagulant (LA) was detected by functional coagulation tests

Results

Medium to high titres of aCL and anti-β2-GPI Abs were found in sera from 4 (10.2%) MCTD pts
1 of these pts was positive for IgM aCL, IgM anti-β2-GPI and LA Abs simultaneously
Additionally, this patient had a previous history of foetal loss in the second trimester and new-onset PAH
Other 3 pts had none of the manifestations of APS or PAH
The mean value of IgG anti-β2-GPI was higher among those MCTD pts with PAH vs those w/o
None of the controls were positive for antiphospholipid antibodies

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