Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Nov;18(11):2921-2928.
doi: 10.1111/jth.15053. Epub 2020 Sep 21.

The prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in women with late pregnancy complications and low-risk for chromosomal abnormalities

Silvia G Foddai  1   2 , Massimo Radin  1 , Irene Cecchi  1 , Silvia Gaito  3 , Giulia Orpheu  3 , Elena Rubini  1 , Alice Barinotti  1 , Elisa Menegatti  2 , Giulio Mengozzi  4 , Dario Roccatello  1 , Tilde Manetta  4 , Barbara Donati Marello  4 , Chiara Benedetto  3 , Luca Marozio  3 , Savino Sciascia  1
Affiliations
Free article

The prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in women with late pregnancy complications and low-risk for chromosomal abnormalities

Silvia G Foddai et al. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Nov.
Free article

Abstract

Background: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are known to increase the risk of obstetrical complications. However, aPL significance and prevalence in women with late-onset pregnancy complications (LO-PC) need further clarification.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of aPL in a cohort of women who experienced LO-PC and to compare it with a cohort of uneventful pregnancies.

Methods: One hundred pregnant women who experienced LO-PC, had a low risk for chromosomal abnormalities, and absence of fetal abnormalities were recruited from August 2018 to August 2019. One hundred women with uneventful pregnancy were included as controls. aPL testing was performed on serum samples derived from prenatal screening test and included both criteria and "extra criteria" aPL.

Results: Patients with LO-PC had significantly higher aPL prevalence when compared with controls (31/100 [31%] vs 10/100 [10%]; P < .001). More in detail, up to 26% of women with LO-PC were positive for one aPL, with an overall prevalence significantly higher than controls (26% vs 9%; P < .05). Among single aPL positivity, patients had significantly higher rate of positivity and titers of anticardiolipin IgG (10% vs 2%; mean ± standard deviation 11 ± 13 vs 4 ± 9.6 chemoluminescent unit; P < .05) and phosphatidylserine-prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) IgM (15% vs 6%; mean ± standard deviation 10.2 ± 21.7 vs 3.7 ± 13.7 U; P < .05). Testing for aPS/PT (IgM/IgG) alone allowed the identification of 17 patients negative for criteria aPL. aPL-positive patients had a significantly higher risk of preterm birth (34-36 + 6 weeks; 10% vs 8%; P < .012).

Conclusions: We report a high prevalence of aPL in our cohort. Testing for both criteria and "extra criteria" aPL in women with previous LO-PC could improve the diagnostic accuracy identifying women at higher risk for recurrent pregnancy complications.

Keywords: anti-phosphatidylserine; antiphospholipid antibodies; antiphospholipid syndrome; beta2glycoprotein i domain i; pregnancy complications; pregnancy morbidity; prothrombin.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Ballesteros JA, Company J, Morey A, Velasco J. Connective tissue diseases and pregnancy. Rheumatol Oxford Engl. 1984;174:139-142.
    1. Andreoli L, Bertsias GK, Agmon-Levin N, et al. EULAR recommendations for women’s health and the management of family planning, assisted reproduction, pregnancy and menopause in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76:476-485.
    1. Ostanek L, Milchert M. Pregnancy associated with connective tissue disease. Ann Acad Med Stetin. 2006;52(Suppl 2):11-16.
    1. Østensen M, Villiger PM, Förger F. Interaction of pregnancy and autoimmune rheumatic disease. Autoimmun Rev. 2012;11:A437-A446.
    1. Andreoli L, Gerardi MC, Fernandes M, et al. Disease activity assessment of rheumatic diseases during pregnancy: a comprehensive review of indices used in clinical studies. Autoimmun Rev. 2019;18:164-176.

Publication types

Substances