title: Anticardiolipin antibodies as a risk factor of atherosclerosis in intermittent claudication.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Vascular Surgery of São José do Rio Preto University School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. godoyjmp@riopreto.com.br
authors.forename: José Maria Pereira
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Godoy
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Batigália
authors.forename: Maria Regina Pereira
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Godoy
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Dorotéia R S
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M