OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of autoantibodies in patients with endometriosis MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prevalence of autoantibodies were investigated in 93 patients with endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy or laparotomy. Autoantibodies, such as antithyroglobulin antibody, antimicrosomal antibody, antinuclear antibody (ANA), antiphospho -lipid antibody (APA), lupus anticoagulant (LAC), anti-dsDNA, and rheumatoid factor, were measured in sera of the subjects. The prevalence and distribution of autoantibodies were analyzed according to the stage of endometriosis. RESULTS: All seven autoantibodies were checked in 73 patients out of 93 patients. Autoantibodies were identified in 23 of 73 patients with endometriosis (31.5%). Antibodies detected were antithyroglobulin antibody (15.2%), ANA (12.0%), antimicrosomal antibody (8.7%), anti-dsDNA (5.4%), and rheumatoid factor (4.4%), APA (2.2%) and LAC (1.3%). The prevalence of autoantibodies did not differ by the AFS stage. CONCLUSION: Autoantibodies were detected in about one-third of patients with endometriosis. The prevalence of autoantibodies did not differ by the stage.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Autoantibodies* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Prevalence* ; Rheumatoid Factor

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is recognized as one of the most important causes of hypercoagulability. Itcan be clinically diagnosed if patients have experienced unexplained recurrent venous or arterial thrombosis,recurrent fetal loss, or thrombocytopenia in the presence of circulating autoantibodies to phospholipids, such asanticardiolipin antibody or lupus anticoagulant. Approximately half of all patients with this syndrome do not haveassociated systemic disease, and their condition is described as primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome(PAPS). In the remainder, the syndrome is accompanied by systemic lupus erythematosus or other connective tissuediseases, and is known as secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (1). The purpose of this paper is to illustrate thesystemic manifestations of PAPS, focusing on the radiological findings of CT, MR and angiography in clinicallyproven patients.
Angiography ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid* ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Autoantibodies ; Humans ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Phospholipids ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombophilia ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance and distribution of oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies (ox-LDL-Ab) in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). METHODS: In this study, 334 patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital were included. There were 162 APS patients, 122 patients with other autoimmune diseases without thrombosis or obstetric disease as disease control and 50 healthy controls. The clinical data and laboratory indicators were retrospectively collected. The ox-LDL-Ab, anticardiolipin (aCL) IgG/IgA/IgM, and anti-β2-glycoprotein Ⅰ (aβ2GPI) IgG/IgA/IgM were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The relationship between ox-LDL-Ab and clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed by SPSS 27.0. RESULTS: In APS group, 60.5% of patients had thrombosis, 48.1% had pregnancy morbidity, 34.0% had thrombocytopenia. The positive rates of aCL, aβ2GPI and lupus anticoagulant (LAC) were 17.9%, 34.6%, and 46.9%, respectively. The ox-LDL-Ab titers and positive rate in APS group were higher than that in healthy controls [titers: 40.8 (25.4-66.0) U/mL vs. 24.1 (12.3-36.5) U/mL, P=0.001; positive rate: 67.3% vs. 36.0%, P=0.001]. The diffe-rences in titers and positive rate of ox-LDL-Ab between APS patients and disease controls were not statistically significant [titers: 40.8 (25.4-66.0) U/mL vs. 35.9 (24.2-53.1) U/mL, P=0.118; positive rate: 67.3% vs. 61.5%, P=0.318]. The area under curve (AUC) for aβ2GPI, aCL, and ox-LDL-Ab were 0.745 (95%CI: 0.692-0.797), 0.666 (95%CI: 0.608-0.724), 0.609 (95%CI: 0.549-0.669), respectively. The Youden's index was 0.388, 0.269, and 0.132, respectively. The AUC for ox-LDL-Ab in seronegative APS patients was 0.562 (95%CI: 0.480-0.645). The sensitivity and specificity of ox-LDL-Ab in seronegative APS patients were 63.9% and 47.0%, respectively, and the Youden's index was 0.109. The ox-LDL-Ab positive group had higher positive rate of aβ2GPI (42.2% vs. 18.9%, P=0.003) and aCL (22.9% vs. 7.5%, P=0.017) than the ox-LDL-Ab negative group. There was no correlation between ox-LDL-Ab and thrombosis, coronary artery disease, pregnancy morbidity, hyperlipidemia, hypocomplementemia, and LAC positivity. CONCLUSION Ox-LDL-Ab was correlated with aCL and aβ2GPI, and no association were observed between ox-LDL-Ab and thrombosis, coronary artery disease, and pregnancy morbidity.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Retrospective Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Clinical Relevance ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Autoantibodies ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin A ; Thrombosis ; Immunoglobulin M

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between neruopsychiatric manifestations and auto-antibodies in patients with neruopsychiatric lupus. METHODS: 233 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were admitted or visited Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from January 1993 to March 1996 were included in this study. The medical records of this group were reviewed in detail according to a predefined protocol with special emphasis upon any neruopsychiatric manifestations of the illness. RESULTS: 1) Among patients with SLE, 45(20.1%) had neruopsychiatric manifestations during the course of the disease. 2) The positivity of anticardiolipin antibody and antiribosomal P antibody is more frequent in neruopsychiatric group than that of non-neruopsychiatric lupus(56.3% vs. 22.9%, 44.1% vs. 21.5%, respectively, p<0.05). 3) The frequency of anticardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant is more frequent in thrombotic group than that of non-thrombotic group(69.2% vs. 26.3%, 50.0% vs. 12.1%, respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that investigation of the autoantibodies such as anticardiolipin antibody, antiribosomal P antibody, and lupus anticoagulant may be useful for early detection and management of SLE patients who have neruopsychiatric manifestations.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Autoantibodies* ; Humans ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Medical Records

OBJECTIVE: To detect the serum levels of soluble endothelial glycoprotein endoglin (s-Eng) in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and to evaluate the correlation between s-Eng levels and clinical features and laboratory parameters. METHODS: The levels of serum s-Eng were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 139 patients with APS, 44 patients with SLE but no APS, 37 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), 23 patients with Bechet's disease (BD), 22 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 22 persistent anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) positive individuals without SLE or APS (simply aCL positive group) and 87 health controls (HC) without any auto-immune diseases. These APS patients included 64 primary APS patients and 75 APS patients secondary to SLE.The correlation between the clinical data, laboratory parameters, and serum s-Eng levels were analyzed.Independent samples t test, paired t test, Chi-square Test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's χ² test were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: (1) The serum levels of s-Eng were significantly higher in the patients with APS whether primary or secondary to SLE than in the health controls and simply aCL positive group and the patients with other autoimmune diseases, including SLE, pSS, BD and SSc (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the serum s-Eng levels between simply aCL positive group and health controls [(5.17±2.00) mg/L vs. (5.04±1.11) mg/L, P>0.05]. (2) The best cut-off value for the diagnosis of APS was no less than 8.37 mg/L as mean ± 3SD value, with the sensitivity at 0.772 and the specificity at 0.928. The Youden index was 0.700. These results indicated good validity of s-Eng as a diagnostic marker for APS. (3) The proportions of artery thrombosis and pathological pregnancy were higher in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients than that in s-Eng-negative group (46/81 vs. 19/58, 29/65 vs. 10/44, respectively, all P<0.05). The levels of PLT were lower in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients (72.00×10⁹/L vs. 119.00×10⁹/L, P<0.001). (4) The proportions of the presence (93.83% vs. 37.93%, P<0.001) and titer (61.70 U/mL vs. 15.45 U/mL, P<0.001) of aCL were both higher in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients than in s-Eng-negative group. The proportions of the presence (61.73% vs. 43.10%, P<0.05) and titer (33.48 U/mL vs.17.40 U/mL, P<0.05) of anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibody were both higher in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients than in s-Eng-negative group too. CONCLUSION s-Eng serum levels were significantly increased in the patients with APS, and it may play a role as acomplementary serological marker for the diagnosis and risk prediction of APS.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Autoantibodies ; Endoglin/blood* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the etiologies and clinical outcomes of Korean recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients. And also, we investigated the differences between primary and secondary RPL patients, between two and three or more pregnancy losses. METHODS: One hundred seventy eight women diagnosed as RPL were enrolled. We performed chromosomal analysis, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, blood glucose, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, natural killer cell proportion, anticardiolipin antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, anti-β2glycoprotein-1 antibodies, antinuclear antibody, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, homocysteine, MTFHR gene, factor V Leiden mutation, and hysterosalphingography/hysteroscopic evaluation. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.03±4.30 years, and mean number of miscarriages was 2.69±1.11 (range, 2 to 11). Anatomical cause (13.5%), chromosomal abnormalities (5.6%), and endocrine disorders (34.3%) were observed in RPL women. Elevated natural killer cell and antiphospholipid antibodies were observed in 43.3% and 7.3% each. Among of 178 women, 77 women were pregnant. After management of those women, live birth rate was 84.4% and mean gestational weeks was 37.63±5.12. Women with three or more RPL compared with women with two RPL had more common anatomical cause such as intrauterine adhesions and lower rates of spontaneous pregnancy. Compare with secondary RPL women, immunological abnormalities were more common in primary RPL. However, miscarriage rates were not different. CONCLUSION: Immunological factor including autoimmune and alloimmune disorders was most common etiology of RPL. Inherited thrombophilia showed different patterns with other ethnic countries. Miscarriage rates were not different between primary and secondary RPL, or between two and three or more miscarriages group.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Antithrombin III ; Blood Glucose ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Factor V ; Female ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Live Birth ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Plasminogen Activators ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Prolactin ; Protein C ; Protein S ; Thrombophilia ; Thyrotropin

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the etiologies and clinical outcomes of Korean recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients. And also, we investigated the differences between primary and secondary RPL patients, between two and three or more pregnancy losses. METHODS: One hundred seventy eight women diagnosed as RPL were enrolled. We performed chromosomal analysis, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, blood glucose, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, natural killer cell proportion, anticardiolipin antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, anti-β2glycoprotein-1 antibodies, antinuclear antibody, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, homocysteine, MTFHR gene, factor V Leiden mutation, and hysterosalphingography/hysteroscopic evaluation. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.03±4.30 years, and mean number of miscarriages was 2.69±1.11 (range, 2 to 11). Anatomical cause (13.5%), chromosomal abnormalities (5.6%), and endocrine disorders (34.3%) were observed in RPL women. Elevated natural killer cell and antiphospholipid antibodies were observed in 43.3% and 7.3% each. Among of 178 women, 77 women were pregnant. After management of those women, live birth rate was 84.4% and mean gestational weeks was 37.63±5.12. Women with three or more RPL compared with women with two RPL had more common anatomical cause such as intrauterine adhesions and lower rates of spontaneous pregnancy. Compare with secondary RPL women, immunological abnormalities were more common in primary RPL. However, miscarriage rates were not different. CONCLUSION: Immunological factor including autoimmune and alloimmune disorders was most common etiology of RPL. Inherited thrombophilia showed different patterns with other ethnic countries. Miscarriage rates were not different between primary and secondary RPL, or between two and three or more miscarriages group.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Antithrombin III ; Blood Glucose ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Factor V ; Female ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Live Birth ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Plasminogen Activators ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Prolactin ; Protein C ; Protein S ; Thrombophilia ; Thyrotropin

Objective: To investigate the relationship between subchorionic hematoma (SCH) and coagulation status, autoantibodies, and conception method. Methods: A total of 100 pregnant women diagnosed with SCH from June 2020 to December 2021 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the SCH group, while 100 healthy pregnant women during the same period were selected as the control group. The coagulation status (including platelet, prothrombin time, thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin Ⅲ, fibrin degradation products, D-dimer, homocysteine, protein S activity, protein C activity), the positive rate of autoantibodies [including antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibody and anti-β₂ glycoprotein Ⅰ antibody), antinuclear antibody] and the mode of conception of the two groups were analyzed. Results: Compared to the control group, the SCH group had higher levels of platelet [(240±45)×10⁹/L vs (227±37)×10⁹/L], fibrinogen [(4.0±0.8) vs (3.6±0.7) g/L], D-dimer [(0.42±0.18) vs (0.31±0.15) mg/L], blood homocysteine [(8.9±4.2) vs (6.9±2.3) μmol/L], and lower level of protein S activity [(55±14)% vs (68±20)%], and there were significant differences between the two groups (all P<0.05). The SCH group had higher positive rates of autoantibodies [24.0% (24/100) vs 8.0% (8/100)], antiphospholipid antibodies [15.0% (15/100) vs 6.0% (6/100)], anti-β₂ glycoprotein Ⅰ antibody [10.0% (10/100) vs 3.0% (3/100)], antinuclear antibody [11.0% (11/100) vs 2.0% (2/100)] and assisted reproduction rate [10.0% (10/100) vs 2.0% (2/100)] than those of the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The occurrence of SCH is related to blood hypercoagulability, positive autoantibodies, and assisted reproduction.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Autoantibodies ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Fibrinogen ; Homocysteine ; Glycoproteins

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis, and pregnancy loss. A 57-year-old woman was admitted for aggravation of both leg ulcers. Venogram showed chronic venous obstructions at both lower extremities, and chest x-ray and computed tomography revealed serositis in pericardium and pleura. The laboratory tests revealed pancytopenia, and positive tests for antinuclear antibody, anti-dsDNA antibody, lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody, which led to a diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome secondary to systemic lupus erythematous. After medical treatments by anticoagulation and immunosuppression, and surgical managements including subtotal skin graft and local flap surgery, leg ulcers had been successfully treated without recurrence. Recognition of antiphospholipid syndrome as a cause of venous ulcer and the treatment plans including anticoagulation and surgical management is important in proper managements.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Lower Extremity ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; Pericardium ; Pleura ; Pregnancy ; Recurrence ; Serositis ; Skin ; Thorax ; Transplants ; Varicose Ulcer ; Venous Thrombosis

The antiphospholipid syndrome is a multisystemic disorder comprising of venous and arterial thrombotic events, recurrent unexplained fetal losses, moderate thrombocytopenia, and a high frequency of neurologic events with laboratory findings of a positive lupus anticoagulant test or anticardiolipin antibody. It may occur in association with other disorders, particularly autoimmune diseases, in which case it is referred to as secondary antiphospholipid syndrome. But when it occurs without obvious underlying disease, it is primary antiphospholipid syndrome. We report a case of primary antiphospholipid syndrome in a 5 year old female child who had a cerebrovascular attack, moderate thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Splenomegaly ; Thrombocytopenia