Anti-phosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex antibodies in patients with localized scleroderma.
OBJECTIVE
Although some antiphospholipid antibodies (Abs) are found in patients with localized scleroderma (LSc), Ab against phosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex (PS/PT) has not been examined. We investigated anti-PS/PT Ab levels in patients with LSc.


METHODS
IgG anti-PS/PT Ab levels in serum samples taken from patients with LSc (n = 42) were measured using ELISA.


RESULTS
IgG anti-PS/PT Ab was detected in 17% of the LSc patients, while it was not detected in any normal controls (n = 32) or psoriasis vulgaris (n = 25), and this frequency was similar to that of systemic sclerosis (17%, n = 41). Among 3 LSc subgroups, generalized morphea, the severest form of LSc, had a frequency (27%) comparable with that of systemic lupus erythematosus (32%, n = 25). Among 7 LSc patients with anti-PS/PT Ab, 2 developed symptomatic thromboembolism (A 70-year-old man developed deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary infarction, although he was negative for other antiphospholipid Abs. A 6-year-old boy positive for lupus anticoagulant had cerebral infarction). By contrast, symptomatic thromboembolism was not detected in 35 LSc patients without anti-PS/PT Ab.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with LSc, especially generalized morphea, exhibit anti-PS/PT Ab at a frequency comparable with collagen diseases such as systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosis. Examination of this Ab may be useful to recognize the risk of thromboembolism in patients with LSc.
Hasegawa
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan. minoruha@derma.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Fujimoto
M
M
Hayakawa
I
I
Matsushita
T
T
Nishijima
C
C
Yamazaki
M
M
Takehara
K
K
Sato
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D011516:Prothrombin