Anticardiolipin antibodies as a risk factor of atherosclerosis in intermittent claudication.
Anticardiolipin antibodies have been associated as a risk factor of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between anticardiolipin antibodies and intermittent claudication. Forty consecutive patients (33 men, 7 women; age range: 45-84 years, mean 65.5) who were seen in the angiology and vascular surgery department with intermittent claudication were evaluated. Exclusion criteria included prior revascularization, angioplasty, or a history of thrombosis of a lower limb. Forty individuals (23 men, 17 women; age range: 58-82 years, mean 67.1) who attended a support group for senior citizens and who were apparently healthy formed the control group. Anticardiolipin antibodies were evaluated by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative measurement of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies against cardiolipins in serum. IgG levels were considered normal when < 7, borderline from 7 to 10, and elevated at > 10 GPL units/mL; IgM levels were normal when < 4, borderline from 4 to 7, and elevated at > 7 MPL, as recommended by the test manufacturers. Statistical analysis used the relative risk test with a confidence interval of 95%. Twenty-three patients from the study group and 6 individuals from the control group were found to have elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies giving a relative risk of 3.833 (ranging from 1.749 to 8.4; p value < 0.0001). In conclusion, patients who have elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies present a 3.8 times greater risk of developing intermittent claudication.
de Godoy
José Maria Pereira
JM
Department of Cardiology and Vascular Surgery of São José do Rio Preto University School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. godoyjmp@riopreto.com.br
Batigália
Fernando
F
de Godoy
Maria Regina Pereira
MR
Brandão
Antonio Carlos
AC
Souza
Dorotéia R S
DR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M