title: New tests to detect antiphospholipid antibodies: antiprothrombin (aPT) and anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT) antibodies.
abstract: Antiprothrombin antibodies have been proposed as potential new biomarkers for thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity in the setting of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Antiprothrombin antibodies are commonly detected by ELISA, using prothrombin coated onto irradiated plates (aPT), or prothrombin in complex with phosphatidylserine (aPS/PT), as antigen. Although these antibodies can co-exist in the same patient, aPT and aPS/PT seem to belong to different populations of autoantibodies. Early research explored the role of antibodies to prothrombin as potential antigenic targets for the lupus anticoagulant (LA). To date their clinical significance is being investigated and their potential role in identifying patients at higher risk of developing thrombotic events or pregnancy morbidity is being probed.
authors.affiliation: Graham Hughes Lupus Research Laboratory, Lupus Research Unit, Division of Women's Health, King's College London, The Rayne Institute, 4th Floor Lambeth Wing, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Savino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sciascia
authors.forename: Munther A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khamashta
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bertolaccini
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000276:immunology*; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D001323:Autoantibodies; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D011516:Prothrombin