title: Characterization of antiphospholipid antibodies in chronic hepatitis B infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many infections are associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence, persistence, clinical significance, and characteristics of aPLs in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 143 patients with HBV infection and 32 healthy individuals as controls. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL Ab), anti-β(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies (β(2)GPI Ab), and lupus anticoagulant (LA) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total prevalence of aPLs in HBV-infected patients was 12.6% (18 of 143). Of these 18 patients, 15 had low to medium titers of aCL Ab (10 with IgM, 4 with IgG, and 1 with both isotypes). β(2)GPI Ab and LA were detected in 3 (2.1%) and 2 (1.4%) patients with HBV infection, respectively. In follow-up specimens from 14 patients with elevated levels of aCL Ab or β(2)GPI Ab, 10 (71.4%) showed the persistent presence of aPLs. No clinical manifestations related to aPLs were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In HBV-infected patients, the most frequently detected antiphospholipid antibodies were IgM aCL Ab, which have a weak association with the clinical manifestations of APS. Unlike the transient presence reported for other infection-associated aPLs, most aPLs were persistently detected over a 12-week period in patients with HBV infection.
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Ji Young
authors: JY
authors: Huh
authors: Dae Young
authors: DY
authors: Yi
authors: Seong Gyu
authors: SG
authors: Hwang
authors: Jin Jung
authors: JJ
authors: Choi
authors: Myung Seo
authors: MS
authors: Kang