title: Antiphospholipid antibodies in children with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective study in northern India.
abstract: Twenty-seven children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were tested for antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA), i.e. lupus anticoagulant and immunoglobulin (Ig)G or IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLA), with beta-2 glycoprotein I as cofactor, in a single-centre, prospective study over 2 years. Eighteen patients (67%) tested positively for one or the other APLA during the course of the study. Twelve children (44%) tested positively for IgG ACLA and ten (37%) for IgM ACLA, whereas eight (30%) were positive for lupus anticoagulant. In two patients with thrombosis, IgG anticardiolipin positivity was seen to be variable. Unlike the results of most other reports in the literature, lupus anticoagulant positivity was not consistently associated with thrombosis. A majority of the children (83%) tested positively for ACLA during disease activity. Immunoglobulin G and IgM ACLA positivity did not correlate significantly with disease status. The results of this prospective study would indicate that, though frequently present, APLA may be unable to be predictive of disease behaviour in children with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahluwalia
authors.forename: Surjit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Gurjeewan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garewal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D015415:Biomarkers