|
Anti - Cardiolipin
antibodies - An Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) for the semi-quantitative
detection of cardiolipin antibodies in human serum. The presence
of cardiolipin antibodies can be used in conjunction with other
serological tests and clinical findings to aid in assessing the
risk of thrombosis in individuals with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
(SLE) or lupus-like disorders. Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA)
have been strongly associated with venous and arterialthrombosis.
These findings were first observed in systemic lupus erythematosus,
(SLE), a disease whose many symptoms include thrombosis. Of the
many autoantibodies found in SLE, two were found to be directed
against phospholipids such as cardiolipin.
Limitations of the Procedure
1. The clinical significance of ACA in diseases other than
SLE is currently under investigation.
2. In published studies of SLE, the incidence of a positive
ACA is 23 to 54% for IgG and 5 to 40% for IgM.
3. When negative ACA titers are found in the presence of
clinical indications, a lupus anticoagulant or other additional
testing is indicated.
4. Diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of ACA results alone.
These results must be interpreted in conjunction with physical findings.
5. Treatment must not be initiated on the basis of a positive
ACA titer alone. Supportive clinical indications must also be present.
6. A high percentage of conflrmed active or seropositive
syphilis patients will have elevated ACA levels. Confirmatory procedures
should be performed to rule out syphilis.
7. ACA can appear transiently during many infections. Patients
positive for ACA should be retested following an appropriate wait.
|
