Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Patients With Preeclampsia

PROBLEM: To determine the incidence of anticardiolipin and antiphosphatidylserine antibodies in women with preeclampsia. METHODS: Sera from 100 women with preeclampsia and 100 normotensive pregnant women in the third trimester were assayed for anticardiolipin and antiphosphatidylserine antibodies. RESULTS: Antiphosphatidylserine antibodies were positive for IgM in 1 patient (1%) and for IgG in 4 patients (4%). IgM antibodies to cardiolipin were positive in two patients (2%) while IgG antibodies to cardiolipin were positive in nine patients (9%). Only 3% of the control women were positive for antiphospholipid antibodies. None of the patients or controls had positive levels of IgA anticardiolipin or antiphosphatidylserine antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of IgG or IgM antibodies to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine were detected in 11/100 (11%) of women diagnosed with preeclampsia in the third trimester compared to only 3/100 (3%) positive in controls (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that antiphospholipid antibodies may play a pathogenic role in some women with preeclampsia.