Associations between the incidence of antiphosphatidylserine and antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies and clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus.

INTRODUCTION

Antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) and antiphosphatidylserine antibodies (aPS) belong to a group of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) that occur in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine associations between the elevated serum concentration of aPE/aPS, the clinical manifestations of SLE, and the presence of other autoantibodies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study group included 71 patients with SLE. The control group comprised 36 healthy volunteers. In both groups, serum aPS and aPE concentrations were measured with enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assays. Clinical data, including clinical manifestations and the laboratory markers of SLE, were obtained from medical records.

RESULTS

The study revealed a higher prevalence of aPE in patients with SLE than in controls (54.93% vs. 5.56%). aPS were observed in the study group less frequently compared with aPE (12.68% vs. 54.93%) and were absent in controls. Anticardiolipin antibodies and APS were found to be associated with the presence of aPS. Thrombocytopenia, Raynaud phenomenon, and myocardial infarction were observed more frequently among aPS‑positive patients. The presence of aPE was also associated with the occurrence of mucosal ulcers in the mouth cavity. A positive correlation between aPS and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was also observed. The serum concentration of aPE inversely correlated with red blood cell count and positively with ESR.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of aPS in patients with SLE is associated with thrombocytopenia, Raynaud phenomenon, and cardiac complications.