rss
Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:397-399 doi:10.1136/ard.2008.096669
  • Clinical and epidemiological research

Risk factors for a first thrombotic event in antiphospholipid antibody carriers. A multicentre, retrospective follow-up study

  1. A Ruffatti1,
  2. T Del Ross1,
  3. M Ciprian1,
  4. M Nuzzo2,
  5. M Rampudda1,
  6. M T Bertero3,
  7. R Bergia3,
  8. P Caramaschi4,
  9. D Biasi4,
  10. F Capsoni5,
  11. L Montaguti6,
  12. R Ruffini6,
  13. A Brucato7,
  14. U Picillo8,
  15. V Fanelli9,
  16. V Riccieri10,
  17. A Piccoli11,
  18. G Valesini10,
  19. A Doria1,
  20. P L Meroni9,
  21. A Tincani2
  1. 1
    Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  2. 2
    Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Units, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  3. 3
    Clinical Immunology and Allergology Units, Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy
  4. 4
    Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
  5. 5
    Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Galeazzi, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
  6. 6
    Rheumatology Unit, Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy
  7. 7
    Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
  8. 8
    Institute of Clinical Medicine, II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  9. 9
    Department of Internal Medicine, Auxologico Institute, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
  10. 10
    Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Medical Therapy, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
  11. 11
    Nephrology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  1. Professor A Ruffatti, Rheumatology Unit, Policlinico Universitario, Via Giustiniani, 2–35128 Padova, Italy; amelia.ruffatti{at}unipd.it
  • Accepted 6 September 2008
  • Published Online First 23 September 2008

Abstract

Objectives: To asses risk factors for a first thrombotic event in antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) positive carriers and evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic treatments.

Methods: Recruitment criteria were age 18–65 years, no history of thrombosis, positivity for lupus anticoagulant and/or IgG/IgM anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) on ≥2 occasions at least 6 weeks apart. Demographic, laboratory and clinical parameters were collected at enrolment and at the time of the thrombotic event.

Results: 370 patients/subjects (mean (SD) age 34 (9.9) years) were analysed retrospectively for a mean (SD) follow-up of 59.3 (45.5) months. Thirty patients (8.1%) developed a first thrombotic event during follow-up. Hypertension and medium/high levels of IgG aCL were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis as independent risk factors for thrombosis. Thromboprophylaxis during high-risk and long-term periods was significantly protective.

Conclusions: Hypertension or medium/high titres of IgG aCL are risk factors for a first thrombotic event in asymptomatic aPL carriers and primary prophylaxis is protective.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • The authors are members of the APS Study Group of the Italian Society of Rheumatology.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics committee approval obtained.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. All versions of this article:
    1. ard.2008.096669v1
    2. 68/3/397 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.