Vascular dementia and anticardiolipin antibodies.
BACKGROUND
An association between anticardiolipin antibodies and dementia has been reported in several recent studies; however, its physiopathological mechanism remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of vascular dementia and anticardiolipin antibodies.


METHODS
A random prospective investigation of 17 male and 13 female patients with vascular dementia was made with regard to anticardiolipin antibodies. Their ages ranged from 56 to 77 years (average: 67.2 years). The criteria of NINDS-AIREN were used to define the vascular dementia. A control group of 25 female and 9 male patients was formed with ages ranging from 62 to 80 years (mean: 68 years). Evaluation of the anticardiolipin antibodies was performed by means of Enzyme-Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (ELISA) for the quantitative measurement of IgG and IgM antibodies against cardiolipins in serum. Statistical analysis was done using the Fisher's exact test, where p<0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies were detected in 56.6% of the patients with vascular dementia and 26.4% of the control group (p<0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant difference in the prevalence of high levels of anticardiolipin antibodies between the group of patients with vascular dementia and the control group. This proves that anticardiolipin antibodies present a risk factor for vascular dementia.
de Godoy
José Maria Pereira
JM
Department of Cardiology and Vascular Surgery, São José do Rio Preto University School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. godoyjmp@riopreto.com.br
de Godoy
Maria Regina Pereira
MR
Cipulo
José Paulo
JP
Tognola
Valdir Antonio
VA
D000368:Aged; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M