We have previously demonstrated that patients with cirrhosis may be positive for lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies. The prevalence and clinical value of antiphospholipid antibodies in cirrhosis have never been described. Besides, it has not yet been determined if serum levels of beta-2-glycoprotein I, which is synthesized by the liver and mediates the interaction between cardiolipin and anticardiolipin antibodies affects lupus anticoagulant detectability in cirrhosis. We evaluated the prevalence of lupus anticoagulant in 63 patients with cirrhosis and related it to beta-2-glycoprotein I serum levels. We also analyzed whether lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies were associated with previous thrombotic complications. Eleven patients (18%) were lupus anticoagulant positive; 14 (22%) had high values of anticardiolipin antibodies. Fourteen patients had a previous history of splanchnic venous thrombosis (n=9) or thrombophlebitis (n= 5). A significant association between lupus anticoagulant (p=0.0001), anticardiolipin antibodies (p=0.0001) and venous thrombosis was found. Patients with severe liver failure had significantly lower beta-2-glycoprotein I levels than those with moderate (p<0.01) or low (p<0.001) hepatic insufficiency. Among 14 anticardiolipin antibodies positive patients, six with severe liver failure were lupus anticoagulant negative and had beta-2-glycoprotein I values below 100 mu g/ml. In four of these, basal values of dilute activated partial thromboplastin time were not modified by the addition of 50 mu g/ml of exogenous beta-2-glycoprotein I. This study shows that antiphospholipid antibodies are relatively frequent in cirrhosis and that beta-2-glycoprotein I levels are not so low as to affect lupus anticoagulant detectability. Antiphospholipid antibodies are significantly associated with venous thrombosis and might be a risk factor. (C) Journal of Hepatology.
PREVALENCE OF LUPUS ANTICOAGULANT IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS - RELATIONSHIP WITH BETA-2-GLYCOPROTEIN-I PLASMA-LEVELS / Claudio, Quintarelli; Ferro, Domenico; Valesini, Guido; Basili, Stefania; Giuseppa, Tassone; Violi, Francesco. - In: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. - ISSN 0168-8278. - 21:6(1994), pp. 1086-1091. [10.1016/s0168-8278(05)80622-1]
PREVALENCE OF LUPUS ANTICOAGULANT IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS - RELATIONSHIP WITH BETA-2-GLYCOPROTEIN-I PLASMA-LEVELS
FERRO, Domenico;VALESINI, Guido;BASILI, Stefania;VIOLI, Francesco
1994
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that patients with cirrhosis may be positive for lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies. The prevalence and clinical value of antiphospholipid antibodies in cirrhosis have never been described. Besides, it has not yet been determined if serum levels of beta-2-glycoprotein I, which is synthesized by the liver and mediates the interaction between cardiolipin and anticardiolipin antibodies affects lupus anticoagulant detectability in cirrhosis. We evaluated the prevalence of lupus anticoagulant in 63 patients with cirrhosis and related it to beta-2-glycoprotein I serum levels. We also analyzed whether lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies were associated with previous thrombotic complications. Eleven patients (18%) were lupus anticoagulant positive; 14 (22%) had high values of anticardiolipin antibodies. Fourteen patients had a previous history of splanchnic venous thrombosis (n=9) or thrombophlebitis (n= 5). A significant association between lupus anticoagulant (p=0.0001), anticardiolipin antibodies (p=0.0001) and venous thrombosis was found. Patients with severe liver failure had significantly lower beta-2-glycoprotein I levels than those with moderate (p<0.01) or low (p<0.001) hepatic insufficiency. Among 14 anticardiolipin antibodies positive patients, six with severe liver failure were lupus anticoagulant negative and had beta-2-glycoprotein I values below 100 mu g/ml. In four of these, basal values of dilute activated partial thromboplastin time were not modified by the addition of 50 mu g/ml of exogenous beta-2-glycoprotein I. This study shows that antiphospholipid antibodies are relatively frequent in cirrhosis and that beta-2-glycoprotein I levels are not so low as to affect lupus anticoagulant detectability. Antiphospholipid antibodies are significantly associated with venous thrombosis and might be a risk factor. (C) Journal of Hepatology.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
