ABSTRACT
Autoantibodies directed to beta2 glycoprotein I (a beta 2 GPI) are frequently found in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). They are more strongly associated with clinical manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome then a PL. It has been shown that beta2 GPI and C4b bibding protein (C4bBP) share certain homology. In a previous study we have shown that anticardiolipin antibodies were associated with a plasma decrease of C4bBP. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in 131 patients with a PL whether the decrease in C4bBP is related to the presence of abeta2 GPI. Lower C4bBP levels (mean +- SD) in the group of patients having abeta2 GPI (n=57) were observed when compared with the normal group (n=44), (74.3 porciento +-28.1 vs 94.6 porciento +-20.9,p<0.005).This difference was more significant consideing the IgG isotype. The group of patients with positive abeta2GPI-igG (n=41) had lower values of C4bBP (70.1 porciento +- 26.8) than both the normal group (p<0.005) and the group of patients with negative abeta2 IgG (n=90, 86.0 porciento +- 30.5 porciento, p<0.05). C4bBP deficiency (level <70 porciento) was also morefrequent in the group abeta 2GPI-IgG (+) (63.4 porciento) then in the group abeta2GPI-IgG 8-) (34.4 porciento, p<0.005). Moreover, patients with a PL and previews venous thrombosis (n=32) showed lower C4bBP values (75.1 porciento +- 27.9) compared with the normal group (p<0.05). As this time, the mechanisms responsibles for the C4bBP decrease are not known. Our findings on the close relationship between abnormalitiesin the C4bBP/protein S system and the presence of abeta2GPI could explain the major thrombotic risk in patients havingthese autoantibodies