Antibodies to oxidized LDL/beta 2-glycoprotein I in antiphospholipid syndrome patients with venous and arterial thromboembolism

It has been reported that IgG to oxidized LDL/beta 2-glycoprotein I (oxLDL/beta 2GPI) complexes are associated with arterial thromboembolism (TE) in patients with anti phospholipid syndrome (APS). How these antibodies behave in arterial as compared to venous TE in APS is unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of IgG anti-oxLDL/beta 2GPI with clinical manifestations in category I APS patients. Fifty-seven APS patients with triple positivity (Lupus Anticoagulant (LAC), anti cardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I (a beta 2GPI) antibodies), 28 with arterial and 29 with venous thromboembolism, were included in the study. There were no differences in the dRVVT ratio, IgG/IgM aCL and IgG/IgM a beta 2GPI titers in the two patient groups. There were no differences in the IgG (78.5 U +/- 59.8 vs. 112.2 U +/- 92.3) and IgM (16.3 U +/- 15.9 vs. 21.1 U +/- 14.3) anti-oxLDL/beta 2GPI mean values. A significant correlation was found between IgG anti-oxLDL/beta 2GPI and IgG anti-beta 2GPI titers in the whole group of APS patients. Patients in the arterial group were older and had more risk factors for atherosclerosis. Data from this study do not support the hypothesis that IgG anti-oxLDL/beta 2GPI are specifically associated to arterial TE in Category I APS patients. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.