title: Plasma microparticle tissue factor activity in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies with and without clinical complications.
abstract: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the association of autoantibodies to certain phospholipid-binding proteins with arterial or venous thrombosis ('AT' or 'VT', respectively), and/or pregnancy-related morbidity (PM). Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLA) promote activation of several cell types including monocytes, resulting in procoagulant tissue factor (TF) expression that may contribute to the vascular complications. Since TF synthesis by monocytes is frequently accompanied by release of TF-bearing microparticles, we hypothesized that plasma microparticle TF activity (MP-TF) may be elevated in APS patients and contribute to thrombosis and/or PM. Platelet-poor plasma specimens were obtained from 30 patients with definite APS and 72 patients with asymptomatic aPLA from the Antiphospholipid Syndrome Collaborative Registry (APSCORE). MP-TF was measured by an in-house factor Xa generation assay. The two groups were well matched for gender, age, ethnicity, proportions with underlying SLE, and aPLA profiles. MP-TF (median and (IQR)) in asymptomatic aPLA subjects was 0.09 pg/mL (0.05-0.14) compared to 0.13 pg/mL (0.10-0.17) in APS (p < 0.001). No differences in MP-TF levels were observed between APS subjects with PM, thrombosis, or PM+thrombosis. Similarly, among subjects with either APS or asymptomatic aPLA, MP-TF did not differ in the presence or absence of underlying SLE. Prospective studies will be required to determine if plasma MP-TF activity is causally related to thrombotic or gestational complications in APS.
authors: University of Groningen School of Medicine, Netherlands.
authors: Rose
authors: R
authors: Willemze
authors: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Bradford
authors: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors: Micah J
authors: MJ
authors: Mooberry
authors: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors: Robert A S
authors: RA
authors: Roubey
authors: Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. Electronic address: nigel_key@med.unc.edu.
authors: Nigel S
authors: NS
authors: Key
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D013925:Thromboplastin
keywords: Antiphospholipid syndrome; Microparticle; Pregnancy; Thrombosis; Tissue factor