Anticardiolipin antibodies, hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT

29 patients with SLE [27 females and 2 males], mean age [26.5 years]. 11 of these patients had autoimmune hemolytic anemia [AIHA] and 18 SLE patients without AIHA [control patients]. Anticardiolipin [ACL] antibodies IgG and IgM levels were measured by ELISA. Elevated IgM ACL antibodies were seen in 7 [63.6%] of 11 patients with AIHA and 2 [11.1%] of 18 control SLE patients [P <0.01]. There was no significant difference in IgG ACL antibodies levels between the two groups. Thrombocytopenia was present in 7 [63.6%] of 11 patients with AIHA and 4 [22.2%] of 18 control SLE patients [P <0.05]. Elevated IgG ACL antibodies were found in 3 [75%] of 4 control SLE patients with thrombocytopenia, [P <0.05] while IgM ACL antibodies were not detected in these patients. It was concluded that in patients with SLE and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, there is a high prevalence of both thrombocytopenia and IgM ACL antibodies which may act as anti- erythrocyte autoantibodies. Also, there is an association between IgG ACL antibodies and presence of thrombocytopenia in SLE. These antibodies may play a direct role in mediating platelet destruction