Antiphospholipid antibodies and lipoprotein (a) as etiologic or contributory factors in patients with idiopathic cavernous transformation of portal vein.
OBJECTIVE
Antiphospholipid antibodies consisting of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant are strongly associated with thrombosis in adult patients. It is also well known that there is a close relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies and lipoprotein (a) in thrombous formation. The aim of this study was to determine whether antiphospholipid antibodies and lipoprotein (a) have any effect on the formation of thrombosis in the portal vein of patients with 'idiopathic' cavernous transformation of the portal vein.


METHODS
Twenty seven patients with idiopathic cavernous transformation of the portal vein (Group 1) seen at Hacettepe University Hospital were identified and prospectively studied. All were investigated for antiphospholipid antibodies and lipoprotein (a). Anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and lipoprotein (a) were measured using commercially available kits. The findings of these 27 patients were compared with those of 20 healthy control subjects (Group 2).


RESULTS
Anticardiolipin antibodies, especially ACA Ig G and lipoprotein (a) levels were found to be higher than of healthy controls and statistically significant differences were documented in two of these parameters, which seems to play an important role in thrombous formation in the portal vein. There was no correlation for lupus anticoagulant between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Anticardiolipin antibodies and lipoprotein (a) are strongly associated with thrombosis in the portal vein, producing a favorable medium for and acting as contributory factors in thrombous formation. It is suggested that these factors should be evaluated carefully in patients with 'idiopathic cavernous transformation of the portal vein'.
Egesel
Türker
T
Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara.
Unsal
Ibrahim
I
Bayraktar
Yusuf
Y