Measuring of cardiolipin antibodies and plasma lipids in different stages of coronary disease.

The study shows that antibodies to cardiolipin which are commonly found in young postinfarction cases may present a high risk for recurrent coronary manifestations. IgG and IgM antibodies to cardiolipin (C1Ab) were determined in 50 healthy individuals and 72 patients with coronary disease: 26 with acute infarction (A) and 24 with chronic infarction (C) as well as 22 with angina pectoris (AP). Lipid status parameters as risk factors were measured in all patients: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein (a). Out of 72 patients suffering from coronary disease 20 (27.7%) had elevated C1Ab IgG (12.36 +/- 3.7 GPLU/ml). Rise of C1Ab IgM was not evidenced in any of the patients. C1Ab IgG were significantly elevated (p < 0.01) in patients with chronic myocardial infarction and angina pectoris (p < 0.05) while in cases of acute myocardial infarction significant elevation of these antibodies was not evidenced.