ISSN 2997-1036
International Journal of Hematology | Vol. 3, No. 12, December 2012 | pp. 89–96
DOI: 10.46882/2012/IJH/000036
Original Article
Title: Prevalence and clinical correlates of lupus anticoagulant positivity in adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Names of Authors: E. F. Chinedu¹, G. H. Haruna², I. J. Balogun³
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Haematology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; ²Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria; ³Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Abstract: Lupus anticoagulant is an important acquired thrombophilic factor that increases the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis. This study cross-sectionally evaluated the prevalence and clinical correlates of lupus anticoagulant in 60 adult patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus anticoagulant screening was conducted using the diluted Russell’s viper venom time assay, followed by phospholipid confirmation steps. Lupus anticoagulant positivity was detected in 23.3% (14 of 60) of the systemic lupus erythematosus cohort. A history of objective thromboembolic events was significantly higher in lupus anticoagulant-positive patients compared to negative individuals (28.5% versus 4.3%, P < 0.01). Furthermore, obstetric complications, including recurrent early pregnancy loss or unexplained fetal death, were documented in 42.8% of positive females. Activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation did not reliably predict lupus anticoagulant presence due to variable reagent sensitivities. Routine screening utilizing specialized phospholipid-dependent assays is highly recommended in systemic lupus erythematosus patients to identify high-risk thrombotic phenotypes requiring long-term antiplatelet or anticoagulant interventions.
Keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus anticoagulant, diluted Russell’s viper venom time, thrombosis, pregnancy loss
Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 02, 2012; Revised: October 12, 2012; Accepted: November 04, 2012; Published: December 10, 2012