Investigation of antiphosphatidyl-serine antibody and antiphosphatidyl-inositol antibody in ischemic stroke patients.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by arterial or venous thrombosis and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). We measured β2-GPI aCL, IgGaCL, LA, antiphosphatidyl-serine antibody (PS), and antiphosphatidyl-inositol antibody (PI) in each patient at one month after the onset of stroke. In addition, carotid artery echography was performed in patients positive for PI or PS. Among the 250 patients, 13.6% (34/250) were positive for either PI or PS, and 6.8% (17/250) were positive for both. Carotid artery echography performed on these 34 patients showed that the frequencies of increased intimal-medial thickness (IMT) of 1.1 mm or more, plaque, and carotid artery stenosis of 50% or more were all significantly higher in patients positive for antinuclear antibody than those negative for the antibody (P < .05). PI and PS are associated with antinuclear antibody and precipitation of atherosclerosis. Ischemic stroke patients with SLE frequently showed a variety of antiphospholipid-protein antibodies.