Antiphospholipid and other autoantibodies in a cohort of habitual aborters and healthy multiparous women in Jamaica

Blood samples from 50∼women who had had recurrent spontaneous abortions and 135 healthy multiparous women were investigated for anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and anti-β₂ Glycoprotein 1 (anti-β₂ GP1) dependent aCL antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), lupus anticoagulant activity was measured by activated partial thromboplastin time, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factors and thyroid antibodies using standard techniques. Serological tests for syphilis were performed on all sera and thyroid function was evaluated. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of autoantibodies in habitual aborters and control subjects (60% and 44%, respectively). Habitual aborters differed from controls only in the prevalence of positive aCL antibody tests (15/50, 30% vs. 15/135, 11%; χ²= 8.5, P= 0.01); medium/high concentrations of aCL antibodies (9/50, 18% vs. 9/135, 7%; χ² 4.3, P= 0.05); aCL antibodies of the IgM isotype (8/50, 16% vs. 7/135, 5%; χ²= 4.5, P= 0.05) and anti-β_2- GPI antibodies (7/50, 14% vs. 3/135, 2%; χ²= 6.1, P= 0.05). We recommend aCL antibody screening in habitual aborters and the performance of the anti-β₂ GP1 antibody tests to identify those most at risk.