β-2-glycoprotein, IgA utoantibodies

Why this test?

Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.

To assess thrombotic risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

In what cases is it prescribed?

In the event of miscarriage at various times, especially at the 10th week or more, when the death of the fetus due to genetic reasons is unlikely.

In the presence of venous or arterial thrombosis, especially at a young age, in particular heart attacks, strokes, transient disorders of cerebral blood circulation, pulmonary embolism, thrombosis of retinal vessels.

With the clinical prerequisites of the presence of APS and a negative analysis for antibodies to cardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant.

Test information

Beta-2-glycoprotein is a blood plasma protein that has anticoagulant activity (prevents the formation of blood clots). Antibodies to beta-2-glycoprotein are noted in 70-80% of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), in which the blood coagulation system is disturbed, which increases the risk of blood clot formation.

An increase in the level of antibodies to beta-2-glycoprotein is directly proportional to the development of APS in general and its main clinical manifestations separately (venous and arterial thrombosis, obstetric pathology and thrombocytopenia), as well as some additional signs of the syndrome (trophic leg ulcers, hemolytic anemia and heart valve impressions ). A characteristic feature of APS is frequent recurrence of thrombosis.

Most often, arterial thrombosis in APS affects intracerebral arteries, which leads to stroke and transient ischemic attacks. One of the most characteristic signs of APS is obstetric pathology: habitual miscarriage, recurrent spontaneous abortions, intrauterine fetal death, preeclampsia. Fetal loss can occur at any time of pregnancy, but somewhat more often in the 1st trimester than in the 2nd and 3rd.

Skin lesions in APS are characterized by various clinical manifestations, such as reticular liver, skin ulcers, pseudovasculitic and vasculitic ulcers. A typical hematological sign of APS is thrombocytopenia. Usually, the number of platelets decreases moderately (70,000-100,000 / mm 3) and treatment is not required. A false-positive Wasserman reaction can also be determined.

With symptoms of APS and negative results of tests for antibodies to cardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant, it is advisable to determine antibodies to beta-2-glycoprotein to confirm the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.