Antiphospholipid antibodies and sub-clinical atherosclerosis in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) have been associated with clinical cardiovascular disease, but it remains unclear whether APA are associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis. This study examined the relationship between APA and sub-clinical atherosclerosis, measured as coronary artery calcification (CAC), in participants from the prospective Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

2,203 black and white participants with sera available from the CARDIA year 7 examination and CAC measured by computed tomography at years 15 or 20 were selected.

RESULTS

Anti-β2-glycoprotein I (anti-β2-GPI) immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG, and IgA were positive in 7.0, 1.4, and 1.8 % of participants, respectively; anti-cardiolipin (aCL) IgM and IgG were positive in 1.5 and 1.0 %, respectively. 9.5 % of participants had CAC score >0 at year 15. Anti-β2-GPI IgM, IgG, IgA, and aCL IgG positivity were associated with CAC >0 at year 15 after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors; [odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) were 1.7 (1.0, 3.1), 6.4 (2.4, 16.8), 5.6 (2.3, 13.2), and 5.1 (1.4, 18.6), respectively]. Anti-β2-GPI IgG was associated with year 20 CAC >0, and anti-β2-GPI IgA and aCL IgG were marginally associated.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that APA positivity during young adulthood is a risk factor for subsequent sub-clinical atherosclerosis and might play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis