Antiphospholipid antibodies: a risk factor for occlusive retinal vascular disorders. Comparison with ocular inflammatory diseases

• Published in: Journal of rheumatology Vol. 28; no. 11; pp. 2437 - 2441
• Main Authors: J Carbone, S Sánchez-Ramón, R Cobo-Soriano, E Seoane, M J Aparicio, J L Ruiz-Tíscar, M Rodríguez-Mahou, J J Rodríguez-Molina, E Sarmiento, C Cortés, E Fernández-Cruz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Toronto, ON The Journal of Rheumatology 01-11-2001; Journal of Rheumatology Publishing
• Subjects: Antibodies, Antiphospholipid - analysis; Antigen-Antibody Complex - analysis; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - complications; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - immunology; Antiphospholipid Syndrome - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Complement System Proteins - analysis; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Retinal Artery Occlusion - complications; Retinal Artery Occlusion - immunology; Retinal Artery Occlusion - pathology; Retinal Vein Occlusion - complications; Retinal Vein Occlusion - immunology; Retinal Vein Occlusion - pathology; Risk Factors; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Uveitis - complications; Uveitis - immunology; Uveitis - pathology; Human; Immunopathology; Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; Prevalence; Immune response; Retinopathy; Antibody; Pathogenesis; Autoantibody; Cardiovascular disease; Autoimmune disease; Hemopathy; Epidemiology; Immunological method; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Symptomatology; Eye disease; Platelet; Risk factor; Complication; Public health
• ISSN: 0315-162X; 1499-2752

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) together with immunological characteristics of
patients with occlusive retinal vascular disorders (ORVD) with and without risk factors (systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes
mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and embolizing cardiac disease) for retinal occlusions compared to patients with ocular inflammatory
diseases (OID) and healthy controls. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with ORVD, 45 patients with OID, and 49 healthy persons
were prospectively studied. Serologic studies included determination of anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, antinuclear
antibodies (ANA), levels of complement 4 and 3, total hemolytic complement (CH100), and circulating immune complexes (CIC).
RESULTS: Elevated levels of aPL were detected in 16 (24%) patients with ORVD compared to 4 (9%) patients with OID (OR 3.15,
p < 0.05) and 4 (8%) controls (OR 3.46, p < 0.05). No significant differences were seen in the prevalence of aPL comparing
risk factor-positive patients with ORVD (8 of 33, 24%) to risk factor-free patients with ORVD (8 of 35, 23%). A higher frequency
of positive ANA, elevated IgA, and increased CIC were detected in aPL positive patients with ORVD compared to patients with
OID. CONCLUSION: Detection of aPL in patients with ORVD may help determine which patients are eligible for prophylactic treatment.
An immunologic profile characterized by high prevalence of ANA, CIC, and elevated IgA distinguishes ORVD patients with aPL
from inflammatory ophthalmologic disorders.