Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) linked to thrombosis (arterial and/or venous) and/or obstetrical symptoms are the hallmark of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). However, APS typically has a number of symptoms that are regarded as noncriteria features. In a cohort of patients with primary APS (PAPS), researchers sought to determine if noncriteria features would be observed more commonly in individuals with thrombotic and/or obstetrical APS (“criteria” manifestations). The findings from the study’s nationwide cohort were presented.
Cross-sectional research including 360 PAPS patients was conducted. Data on the presence of chorea, valvulopathy, livedo reticularis, and thrombocytopenia, among other conditions, were evaluated. Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLs: immunoglobulin G [IgG]/IgM]), anti-β2glycoprotein I (IgG/IgM), and the presence of lupus anticoagulant were all identified using the aPL analysis.
As with valvular symptoms (valve vegetations and valvular thickness and dysfunction unrelated to age), livedo reticularis was substantially associated with arterial thromboses in our sample (P=0.0001, P=0.013, respectively). All of the non-criteria symptoms examined had a high relationship with age. Significant correlations between thrombocytopenia and the presence of lupus anticoagulant, double and triple aPL positive, and β2 glycoproteins I IgG was found (P=0.043, P=0.030, respectively). Additionally, a multivariate model revealed a substantial and independent relationship between arterial thrombosis in our sample and livedo reticularis (odds ratio, 2.010; CI, 1.229-3.288; P=0.005).
The high correlation between livedo reticularis and arterial thrombosis was verified by the cross-sectional investigation of a sizable cohort of PAPS patients, recommending a more cautious approach to the presence of noncriteria symptoms, particularly livedo reticularis, in APS.
Reference: journals.lww.com/jclinrheum/Abstract/2022/10000/Analysis_of_Serbian_Primary_Antiphospholipid.6.aspx
