A number of previous studies have shown that anti-phospholipid(aPL) antibodies(Abs) do not bind primarily to the negatively-charged phospholipid itself but rather to complexes of the phospholipid and plasma proteins, and that the most common antigenic targets are β2-glycoprotein I recognized by anticardiolipin Abs and prothrombin recognized by most lupus anticoagulants. However, resent studies suggest that other phospholipid-binding proteins, particularly protein C, protein S, and annexin V, may be important targets as well. To clarify the association between the various types of aPL Abs and thrombotic complications in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), we examined the prevalence of aPL Abs to various phospholipid-binding proteins(β2-glycoprotein I, prothrombin, protein C, protein S, and annexin V). We found that anti-β2-glycoprotein I Abs may be associated primarily with cerebral infarction and femoral artery thrombosis, and that anti-protein S Abs may be associated primarily with venous thromboembolism and renal thrombotic microangiopathy. Furthermore, anti-annexin V Abs might be closely related to fetal loss. These findings suggest that thrombotic complications in SLE depend on the antigenic specificities of aPL Abs, alone or in combination.

*Laboratory for Clinical Investigation, Osaka University Hospital, Suita 565-0871