Anticardiolipn antibodies in severe pre-eclampsia

ABSTRACT

To determine the association between anticardiolipin [ACL] antibodies and severe pre-eclampsia One hundred and ten pregnant women were included 10 normal as a control group and 100 cases of severe pre-eclampsia subdivided to group ha ACL+ve and group IIb ACL-ve. Immunological tests included ANA, LE cells, ACL, LAC and complement 3. Coagulation studies included APTT, platelet adhesion, euglobulin lysis time, prostacyclin and protein C. 28% of pre-eclamptic cases were ACL+ve and 72% were ACL-ve. Significant increase in ACL [IgG and IgM] was found in group ha as compared to controls and group IIb. LE cells were demonstrated in only 2.8% in group Ha. Significant decrease in euglobulin lysis time and protein C was detected in pre-eclamptic patients in both ACL+ve and ACL-ve groups. Thrombocytopenia was detected in 57.1% of ACL+ve cases and 59.7% in ACL-ve cases with non-significant difference. ACL antibody is a sensitive antibody for detecting APS. LAC is considered as a screening test for suspicious APS. Hypercoagulability state is ascribed to protein C and/or prostacyclin deficiency