title: Maternal cardiolipin, beta 2-glycoprotein-I and prothrombin antibody expression in high-risk pregnancies with bilateral abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveforms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the frequency of maternal serum antiphospholipid antibodies (to cardiolipin, beta 2-glycoprotein I and prothrombin) in pregnancies presenting with bilateral abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveforms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of stored serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases comprised 47 singleton pregnancies with bilateral abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveforms at 24 weeks of gestation, followed from 20 weeks, and controls were 100 healthy pregnancies with normal uterine artery Doppler waveforms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasound examination utilized a 5-MHz curvilinear transabdominal transducer with pulsed and color Doppler facilities. Antiphospholipid antibodies were analyzed by ELISA methodology, and reference ranges were established using the geometric mean +/- 2 SD of healthy non-pregnant adults. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels were obtained from patient notes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anticardiolipin antibodies were detected in 11 (23%) of the cases (IgG, n = 7; IgM, n = 6) compared with ten (10%) of the controls (p < 0.05). Low titer anticardiolipin IgG (range, 5.5-35.3; median, 6.3 GPL units) and anticardiolipin IgM (range, 3.4-14.7; median, 5.3 MPL units) were detected in cases. Amongst the cases, adverse perinatal outcomes were more common in the presence of raised levels of anticardiolipin antibodies. Anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I IgG was not detected in any of the cases. Antiprothrombin IgG was not detected, but antiprothrombin IgM occurred in 10.6% of cases compared with 2% of controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with persistent bilateral abnormal uterine artery. Doppler waveforms in mid-gestation were more likely to express raised levels of anticardiolipin antibodies than healthy controls with normal uteroplacental perfusion. Anticardiolipin antibodies without anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I binding may be involved in the pathogenesis of uteroplacental ischemia in a proportion of high-risk pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University College London Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donohoe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kingdom
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jauniaux
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Purdy
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Mackie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D001158:Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000097:blood*; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D015415:Biomarkers; D002308:Cardiolipins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I; D011516:Prothrombin