Background Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), such as anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), are the immunological markers of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).¹ The aPL are found in association with venous and/or arterial thrombosis. Myocardial infarction (MI) is usually related to atherosclerosis and thrombosis of coronary arteries.² The clinical significance of aPL in MI, however, has not yet been well established.

Objectives To evaluate the presence and levels of aPL in patients with history MI.

Methods 50 patients (100% male) with average age 49.5±6.09 (M±SD) years with history of MI were examined. Serum IgG aPL (anti-cardiolipin, -phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, -phosphatidylacetate) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELSSA).

Results IgG isotype aPL were detected in 26 (52%) patients with the history of MI and 24 patients were negative.

The average age (M±SD) of aPL positive patients was 44.1±5.00 years and of aPL negative patients was 47.7±4.83 years (p<0.01). The difference comprises more than 3,5 years.

Patients with recurrent MI (two and more) had higher level of IgG aPL, then patients with one MI (18,0±7,53 v.s. 11,5±4,21 GPL-U/ml). The difference is significant (p<0.05).

Conclusions Determined younger age of the first MI in aPL positive patients and higher level of IgG aPL in patients with recurrent MI indicate the possible involvement of the autoimmune factor in the pathogenesis of MI. This proves the necessity for further research in this direction.

References [1] Miyakis S, Lockshin MD, Atsumi T, et al. International consensus statement on an update of the classification criteria for definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). J Thromb Haemost. 2006;4:295–306.

[2] Anand SS, Islam S, Rosengren A, Franzosi MG, Steyn K, Yusufali AH, et al. Patterns of alcohol consumption and myocardial infarction risk: observations from 52 countries in the INTERHEART case-control study. Eur Heart J2008;29;932–940.

Disclosure of Interest None declared