Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Patients With Preeclampsia

Abstract

To determine the incidence of anticardiolipin and antiphosphatidylserine antibodies in women with preeclampsia. Sera from 100 women with preeclampsia and 100 normotensive pregnant women in the third trimester were assayed for anticardiolipin and antiphosphatidylserine antibodies. Antiphosphatidylserine antibodies were positive for IgM in 1 patient (1%) and for IgG in 4 patients (4%). IgM antibodies to cardiolipin were positive in two patients (2%) while IgG antibodies to cardiolipin were positive in nine patients (9%). Only 3% of the control women were positive for antiphospholipid antibodies. None of the patients or controls had positive levels of IgA anticardiolipin or antiphosphatidylserine antibodies. Elevated levels of IgG or IgM antibodies to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine were detected in 11/100 (11%) of women diagnosed with preeclampsia in the third trimester compared to only 3/100 (3%) positive in controls (P < or = 0.05). These findings suggest that antiphospholipid antibodies may play a pathogenic role in some women with preeclampsia.