Anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibodies: a useful marker for the antiphospholipid syndrome

We studied anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibodies (a beta 2GPI) inautoimmune disease patients to evaluate their relationship to clinicalfindings. Seventy-nine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients [44 withantiphospholipid antibodies (aPL)], 21 with primary antiphospholipidsyndrome (APS), eight asymptomatic individuals with aPL and 60 controlswere studied. Sixteen SLE patients (14 with aPL and two without aPL) andsix with primary APS had a beta 2GPI. A significant relationship was foundbetween a beta 2GPI and aPL (P < 0.01). In SLE, a significantcorrelation was found between previous thrombosis or thrombocytopenia and abeta 2GPI or a beta 2GPI + aPL, but not between fetal losses and a beta2GPI. These data suggest that a beta 2GPI may be useful in the study ofAPS.