title: Antibodies to factor XII: a possible predictive marker for recurrent foetal loss.
abstract: Antibodies to factor XII (FXIIabs) have been demonstrated in some patients with the anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). The presence of these antibodies were shown to lead to statistically significantly reduced levels of FXII (p = 0.02). In an extension to this study forty female patients with either primary APS (n = 26) or systemic lupus erythematosus (APS positive) (n = 14) were investigated for levels of factor XII, the presence of lupus anticoagulant and antibodies to cardiolipin, beta 2-glycoprotein I and factor XII. Twenty one of the forty patients had a history of foetal loss (> 2, mean = 2.6). Lupus anticoagulant positivity showed a weak association with foetal loss (odds ratio = 1.1). While there was no association between the presence of antibodies to cardiolipin or beta 2-glycoprotein I with foetal loss, antibodies to factor XII showed a strong and statistically significant association (odds ratio = 5.4, p = 0.025).
authors.affiliation: Kent Haemophilia Centre, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Kent, UK. wynne.jones@ekh-tr.sthames.nhs.uk
authors.forename: David Wynne
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gallimore
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winter
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology; D005174:Factor XII / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I; D005174:Factor XII