Clinicopathological features of lupus anticoagulant; experience at AFIP during last seven years.
BACKGROUND
The lupus anticoagulant (LA) belongs to family of immunoglobulins, most commonly an IgG isotype. These antibodies have been identified most frequently in association with thromboembolic events, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presenting clinical and pathological features in patients LA positive presenting at AFIP Rawalpindi over the period of Jan 1993 to Nov 2000.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of patients presenting with positive LA was carried out.


RESULTS
1583 suspected cases were screened for LA including 1370 females and 213 males. 1024 cases presented with history of recurrent abortions, 292 with thrombosis, 152 with thrombotic strokes before the age of 45 years, 52 with thrombocytopenia and 63 with miscellaneous disorders. Out of 1024 patients tested for recurrent abortions, 130 (13%) females were positive for lupus anticoagulant. Ten (6.5%) of 152 patients presenting with strokes were found positive. Out of 292 cases presenting with thrombosis 17 (5.9%) were found positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The lupus anticoagulant prevalence in Pakistani patients with recurrent fetal loss, stroke and thrombosis is statistically significant. Clinicians should be made aware of association of LA with various diseases. The successful management of these patients depends upon close liaison with obstetricians, physicians and haematologists.
Ayyub
Muhammad
M
AFIP, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. afippak@yahoo.com
Khan
M Naeem
MN
Anwar
Masood
M
Waqar
Amin
A
Ali
Waqar
W
Hussain
Tassawar
T
Luqman
Muhammad
M
Sultana
Nadira
N
Karamat
Karamat Ahmed
KA
Saif
M Wasif
MW
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor