title: Relevance of antiphospholipid antibodies in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta analysis.
abstract: The relationship between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear.
  
  
  
  To evaluate a link between aPL and MS.
  
  
  
  EMBASE and PubMed search to August 2016; Peto's odds ratio (OR) meta-analysis.
  
  
  
  The pooled prevalence of participants positive for IgG and IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) from 12 case-control studies was superior in MS than controls (6.8% vs 1.8%, p = 0.01 and 8.58% vs 2.18%, p = 0.001) with medium and high heterogeneities respectively (I2= 48.55% and 68.13%). The pooled prevalence of participants positive for IgG anti-beta2glycoprotein-I (aβ2GPI) from seven case-control studies was lower in MS than controls (0.93% vs 4.02%) with high heterogeneity (I2= 53.92%) though the pooled prevalence of participants positive for IgM aβ2GPI was similar (7.24% vs 6.13%) with high heterogeneity (I2= 52.85%). Five cohorts compared IgG/IgM aCL and IgM aβ2GPI in stable/remission vs active/relapsing MS: the pooled prevalence of IgG aCL was similar in active/relapsing and stable/remission MS (19% vs 18.9%) but the pooled prevalence of IgM aCL was higher in active than in stable MS (36.9% vs 21%, p < 0.0001) as well as that of IgM β2GPI (40.5% vs 3.2%, p < 0.0001) with no heterogeneity.
  
  
  
  Data from case-control studies do not support a link between IgG/IgM aPL and MS. Data from cohort studies comparing active vs stable MS indicate a strong link between aPL of IgM isotype and active/relapsing MS but in the absence of aPL titres to comment upon this may either represent an epiphenomenon of active neuro-inflammation or natural autoantibodies devoid of pathogenic potential. Data expressed as frequency of aPL positive participants rather than average titres preclude further assumptions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merashli
authors.affiliation: Immune Response & Vascular Disease Unit, Nova University, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jose Delgado
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universita' del Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Immune Response & Vascular Disease Unit, Nova University, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: paxmes@aol.com.
authors.forename: Paul R J
authors.initials: PRJ
authors.lastname: Ames
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Antiphospholipid antibodies; Multiple sclerosis