Antibodies against platelet-activating factor and platelet-activating factor-like lipids are raised in women with primary recurrent abortion.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the antibody levels against platelet-activating factor (PAF), PAF-like lipids lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), cardiolipin (CL), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in recurrent abortion.


METHODS
Eigthy-five women with a history of at least 3 recurrent spontaneous abortions (55 women with primary abortion [31.4+/-5.1 years old]; 30 women with secondary abortion [33+/-4.5 years old]) were compared with 48 age-matched control subjects (33+/-4.4 years old) who had delivered without complications. Antibodies were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
Antibodies against PAF and antibodies against oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (oxPAPC) were raised significantly in the group with primary abortion, as compared to control subjects (P<.05) and not significantly higher than in secondary abortion; antibodies against oxidized LDL, LPC, or CL levels did not differ between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibodies against platelet-activating factor and antibodies against platelet-activating factor-like lipid oxPAPC are associated with primary recurrent abortion and may function as novel disease markers. Whether these antibodies also are pathogenic (eg, by interacting with endothelial cells in placenta or by interfering with platelet-activating factor during embryonal development) remains to be shown.
Frostegård
J
J
Department of Rheumatology, Karolinska Hospital Stockholm, Sweden. johan.frostegard@ks.se
Wramsby
M L
ML
Wu
R
R
Bremme
K
K
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000276:immunology; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000276:immunology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
C468114:1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl-3-phosphorylcholine; D000906:Antibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein