diagnostic value of anti-heparin antibodies in children with autoimmune vasculitis

ABSTRACT

In this study, serum anti-heparin antibodies [AHAs] were measured by ELISA in a group of patients with various types of connective tissue diseases [CTDs] in order to determine whether AHA is to be considered a useful marker and a predictor of immune vasculitis and thrombosis in CTDs. This study included 40 children with CTDs. They were divided into two groups. The first group included 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] and the second group comprised 22 cases with other types of CTDs, as rheumatoid arthritis, mixed connective tissue disease, dermatomyositis and scleroderma. In addition, 30 age and sex matched healthy children were enrolled in the study to serve as a control group. In conclusion, AHAs can be detected in all CTDs and are influenced by disease activity. The detection of these antibodies would help in the diagnosis of vascular damage and tendency to thrombosis secondary to immune vasculitis