Coagulation
Coagulation laboratory tests
Anticardiolipin antibodies
Author: Jeremy C. Parsons, M.D.
Last author update: 1 June 2012
Last staff update: 11 September 2020
Copyright: 2002-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Anticardiolipin antibodies [title]
Cite this page: Parsons JC. Anticardiolipin antibodies. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/coagulationanticardiolipinantibodies.html. Accessed June 5th, 2023.
Definition / general
- One of the two main types of antiphospholipid antibodies (other is lupus anticoagulant) often seen in conjunction with beta2 - glycoprotein antibodies
- Indications:
- Patients with venous thromboembolism (particularly if no family history or associated with autoimmune disease)
- Unexplained stroke (young person or autoimmune disease), cerebral venous thrombosis, recurrent or late pregnancy loss
- Test may be considered for arterial thrombosis, particularly in young patient or no documented atherosclerosis
- Specimen:
- Serum (red top)
- Methodology:
- ELISA test to recognize proteins (not actually cardiolipin) bound to a microtiter plate
- Tests for anti - prothrombin and anti - beta2 - GPI antibodies have had limited prospective studies
- IgG recommended to evaluated hypercoagulability (risk with IgM or IgA antibodies is uncertain)
- Increased titers are most closely associated with hypercoagulability
- 200 - 400x more sensitive than VDRL, but patient with syphilitic infection may have positive anticardiolipin antibody test results
- High sensitivity plates have greater antigenic density on microtiter plate, may be irradiated for greater antigenic density and to facilitate bivalent bonding of plasma antibodies
- 62% positivity in patients with SLE or other autoimmune results
- To demonstrate antibody persistence, positive test must be confirmed by repeat testing after 6 weeks
- Transient antibodies are not strongly associated with thrombosis
Additional references
