CONCISE REPORT

Autoantibodies against phosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex in patients with systemic sclerosis

M Hasegawa¹, S Sato¹, K Yanaba¹, K Komura¹, M Yamazaki², K Takehara¹

¹ Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan
² Department of Internal Medicine (III), Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr M Hasegawa
Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan; minoruha{at}derma.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp

Objective: To determine the frequency and clinical association of antiphosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex (PS/PT) antibody (Ab) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Anti-PS/PT IgG Ab was examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 112 patients with SSc. Thirty three healthy volunteers and 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were also investigated as controls.

Results: Anti-PS/PT Ab was detected in 18/112 (16%) patients with SSc and 10/30 (33%) patients with SLE, whereas it was not detected in any normal controls. Anti-PS/PT Ab was more frequently detected in patients with SSc with peripheral ischaemia and lung disease (pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension) than in patients with SSc without the Ab. However, anti-PS/PT Ab was not associated with the severity of skin sclerosis. Importantly, two patients were negative for both lupus anticoagulant and Ab against cardiolipin ß₂-glycoprotein I complex among six anti-PS/PT Ab positive patients with SSc and a thromboembolic episode.

Conclusions: Anti-PS/PT Ab is associated with thromboembolism, peripheral ischaemia, and lung involvement in some patients with SSc. Examination of this Ab may be useful to recognise the risk of thromboembolism in patients with SSc.

Abbreviations: Ab, antibody; ACR, American College of Rheumatology; APS, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; ß₂GPI, ß₂-glycoprotein I; CL, cardiolipin; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; LA, lupus anticoagulant; mTSS, modified Rodnan total skin thickness score; PS, phosphatidylserine; PT, prothrombin; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SSc, systemic sclerosis; TLCO, carbon monoxide transfer factor; VC, vital capacity

Keywords: antiprothrombin antibodies; systemic sclerosis; antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; lupus anticoagulant; anticardiolipin antibodies

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