Anticardiolipin antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.
Anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) was present in the sera of 49% of 90 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The ACA was absent in 30 control patients with osteoarthritis. C-reactive protein levels equal to or exceeding 7 mg/dl were found in 10 patients all of whom were ACA positive. ACA was present in a larger proportion of rheumatoid factor (RF) positive than of RF negative patients. Male sex and extra-articular manifestations of RA were both more common in ACA positive than ACA negative patients. In the ACA positive group the lupus anticoagulant and VDRL tests were negative. However, a small number of patients had evidence of vascular events.
Keane
A
A
Department of Rheumatology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin.
Woods
R
R
Dowding
V
V
Roden
D
D
Barry
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis
D001323:Autoantibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor