Predictive, protective, orphan autoantibodies: the example of anti-phospholipid antibodies.

Abstract

Anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) are one of the most recent examples of autoantibodies that can appear even long time before any clinical manifestation can be associated with them. There is a general agreement that they may represent a strong risk factor for recurrent thrombosis and/or fetal losses. Anti-phospholipid antibodies represent a necessary but not sufficient factor (first hit) for thrombosis, and require additional triggering factors (second hit) to disclose the thrombogenic activity. Several factors may affect the predictive value of aPL, including titre, immunoglobulin isotype, fine antigenic specificity and affinity binding activity. Their careful evaluation is suggested in order to characterize the true predictive value of aPL.

• Authors: Pier Luigi Meroni, Yehuda Shoenfeld
• Journal: Autoimmunity reviews (Autoimmun Rev) Vol. 7 Issue 8 Pg. 585-7 (Sep 2008) ISSN: 1568-9972 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 18706525 (Publication Type: Editorial, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
• Phospholipids

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Antiphospholipid (biosynthesis, blood, physiology)
• Antiphospholipid Syndrome (diagnosis, immunology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Phospholipids (immunology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Risk Factors