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C‐reactive protein level as a predictor of transient vs. sustained anticardiolipin antibody positivity
Author(s) -
Twito Orit,
Reshef Tamar,
Ellis Martin H.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2005.00592.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lupus anticoagulant , anticardiolipin antibodies , predictive value , positive predicative value , c reactive protein , gastroenterology , antibody , predictive value of tests , antiphospholipid syndrome , thrombosis , immunology , inflammation
The antiphospholipid (APLA) syndrome is defined as the occurrence of venous or arterial thromboembolism or recurrent fetal loss in patients with a positive anticardiolipin (aCL) or lupus anticoagulant test on two occasions, 3 months apart. In this study, we sought to determine whether the level of C‐reactive protein (CRP), a non‐specific inflammatory marker, at the time of the initial positive aCL test is a predictor of the transient vs. sustained nature of the aCL. Patients with a positive aCL antibody test underwent high sensitivity (hs) CRP testing. A repeat aCL antibody assay was performed on a serum sample obtained 3–4 months later. The positive and negative predictive values of the hs‐CRP assay as a predictor of the second aCL result were calculated and correlation between the hs‐CRP result and second aCL result was determined. Fifty‐four consecutive patients with a positive aCL test were studied. Forty‐two had a positive aCL‐2. The predictive value of a negative CRP test for a positive aCL‐2 was found to be 82.5% (33 of 42 patients). A positive CRP was able to predict a negative aCL‐2 in 35.7% of cases (nine of 14 patients). Our results suggest that the hs‐CRP test may be useful in the assessment of patients with a positive aCL antibody test. A concurrently performed negative hs‐CRP test result may be useful in making diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.