Interaction of heparin with antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) from the sera of women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).
OBJECTIVE
To determine if heparin may act directly with antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).


METHODS
Patients were seen at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Twenty women with a history of RPL (> or = 3 miscarriages), positive APA, and an otherwise normal evaluation were treated with heparin in two daily subcutaneous dosages during a successful pregnancy. APA levels were obtained prior to conception and again at 6, 20, and 30 weeks.


RESULTS
Heparin reduced APA binding to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine in a dose-dependent fashion in ELISA. Heparin affinity chromatography absorbed over 80% of the IgG anticardiolipin antibody in serum from women with high levels of APA. Women treated with increasing dosages of heparin during pregnancy had inversely decreasing levels of IgG anticardiolipin antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
Heparin may act by directly binding APA in vivo, thereby decreasing the adverse effects of APA in women with APA associated RPL.
Ermel
L D
LD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
Marshburn
P B
PB
Kutteh
W H
WH
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000378:metabolism; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000187:drug effects*; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D002308:Cardiolipins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D006493:Heparin