ABSTRACT
The central immunological disturbance in systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] is autoantibody production. Some of these antibodies affecting components of the cell nucleus are the major characteristics of SLE. The present study was aimed to assess importance of anticardiolipin [ACL] antibody and its association with clinical state in SLE patients. A cross sectional study was performed on 100 patients with SLE referred to rheumatology outpatient clinic in Ekbatan hospital in Hamadan [Iran] between 2007 and 2008. Serum samples were extracted and screened for IgG and IgM using an ACL enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Up to 36% of patients were positive for ACL antibody that was more frequent in women than men [39.8% versus 8.3%]. No association was revealed between ACL antibody and age. Clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome were observed in 23.0% of patients that was more prevalent in ACL positive group compared with ACL negative group [41.7% versus 125%]. The prevalence of other manifestations including pregnancy-related disorders [recurrent abortion], central nervous system defects, and deep vein thrombosis was 33.3%, 25.0%, and 30.6% in ACL positive group and was 9.4%, 7.8%, and 7.8% in ACL negative group that all were more frequent in the former group. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia was also higher in ACL positive group than another group [22.2% versus 15.6%]. Among ACL positive patients with clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, 86.6% had medium to high titer of ACL. Our study emphasized value of [ACL] antibody to assess clinical status in SLE patients