title: Antibodies to cardiolipin in young survivors of myocardial infarction: an association with recurrent cardiovascular events.
abstract: Antibodies to cardiolipin were measured in 62 survivors of myocardial infarction under age 45 at 3, 12, and 36 months after the acute event. 13 patients (21%) had raised anticardiolipin antibody levels on at least two of the three sampling occasions. Risk-factor profiles and coronary angiographic findings did not differ between the anticardiolipin-positive group and the rest of the patients. No correlation was found between cardiolipin and anti-DNA antibody levels. 8 of the 13 patients with raised anticardiolipin antibody levels experienced additional cardiovascular events during a follow-up of 36-64 months after the first myocardial infarction: cerebral infarction developed in 2, arterial occlusion of the lower limb in 2, new myocardial infarction in 3, pulmonary emboli in 1, and deep-vein thrombosis in 1. These 8 patients had cardiolipin antibody titres of 5 times the mean for voluntary blood donors. Antibodies to cardiolipin are common in young post-infarction patients and should be interpreted as markers of high risk for recurrent cardiovascular events.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamsten
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björkholm
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: de Faire
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins