ABSTRACT
This study was carried out on two groups of subjects. The control group consisted of 10 apparently healthy subjects with a mean age +/- S.E. 22.5 +/- 1.22 years. The second group consisted of 20 rheumatoid patients with a mean age +/- S. E. of 38.4 +/- 1.38 years. All subjects were free from any disease affecting anticardiolipin antibodies level and also they were already diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis clinically and serologically. This study revealed a significant increase in the levels of anticardiolipin antibodies in the studied rheumatoid patients when compared with the control group [P <0.001, P <0.05] as regarding IgG and IgM respectively. Also, showed a significant decrease of platelets count in rheumatoid group when compared with the control [P < 0.05]. There was a significant increase in the anticardiolipin antibodies level in the married female rheumatoid cases with recurrent fetal loss compared with those without recurrent fetal loss [P <0.05]. The mean levels of anticardiolipin antibodies in rheumatoid patients were significantly lower after regular plasmapheresis [P < 0.05, P <0.01]. It can be concluded that anticardiolipin antibodies level may be considered a good denominator of recurrent fetal loss and thrombotic episodes in rheumatoid arthritis also regular plasmapheresis recommended as one of the main lines of management of such rheumatoid patients