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Premature atherosclerosis in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: preliminary data
  1. P R J Ames1,
  2. A Margarita3,
  3. K B Sokoll1,
  4. M Weston2,
  5. V Brancaccio3
  1. 1Academic Department of Rheumatology, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK
  2. 2Department of Radiology, St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
  3. 3Angiology and Coagulation Units, Cardarelli Hospital, Via A. Cardarelli, 80100, Naples, Italy
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr P R J Ames
    Academic Department of Rheumatology, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK; paxmesaol.com

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the atherosclerosis hypothesis in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS).

Methods: The intima media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries and other cardiovascular risk factors was measured in 20 patients with PAPS (mean (SD) age 35 (12) years) and in 20 controls matched for age and sex (34 (12) years).

Results: The frequency of smoking, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia was similar in the two groups, but plasma homocysteine was higher in patients with PAPS (mean (SD) 11.9 (6.2) v 8.2 (3.4) μmol/l, p = 0.037). The IMT was slightly greater in patients with PAPS than in controls at the carotid bifurcation (mean (SD) 0.61 (0.24) v 0.48 (0.09) mm, p = 0.04) and internal carotid artery (0.52 (0.22) v 0.40 (0.08), p = 0.01). These differences were more evident in patients aged >40 years than in those aged <30 years at the carotid bifurcation (0.76 (0.25) v 0.55 (0.06), p = 0.0007) and internal carotid artery (0.63 (0.25) v 0.45 (0.09), p = 0.02); no differences were seen in the younger age group compared with controls.

Conclusion: Atherosclerosis is a possibility in patients with PAPS in their fourth decade of life or older.

  • aCL, anticardiolipin antibodies
  • aPL, antiphospholipid antibodies
  • ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
  • HC, homocysteine
  • IMT, intima media thickness
  • LA, lupus anticoagulant
  • PAPS, primary antiphospholipid syndrome
  • antiphospholipid syndrome
  • atherosclerosis
  • homocysteine

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2004.023952

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