ABSTRACT
The lupus anticoagulant [LA] and anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL] are clinically relevant because of their association with thrombosis and pregnancy loss. The group of antiphospholipid antibodies [aPL] includes antibodies primarily directed against various phospholipid-binding proteins, mainly beta 2-glycoprotein 1 [beta 2GP1]. Some studies suggest that there is an association between the presence of anti beta 2GPl antibodies [a beta GPl] of IgG issotype and thrombosis. Therefore, aPL defined according to the plasma protein to which they are directed appear to be more appropriate for the evaluation of their clinical importance. Using home-made ELISAs we evaluated the presence of a beta 2GP1 of both isotypes [IgG and IgM] in 80 patients with LA and/or aCL. The patients were divided into 2 groups group 1: 40 patients with history of pregnancy complication and group II: 40 patients without a history of pregnancy complication. The study demonstrated that the presence of a beta 2GPl-IgM correlates well with a history of pregnancy loss [OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.1 - 6.1]. So, the present study concluded that the measurement of a beta GP1 of both isotypes could help to identify a PL-positive patients with higher risk for pregnancy loss, although this association should be confirmed by other studies