PHOSPHOLIPID SCREEN

The acronym “aPL” (anti-phospholipid antibodies) indicates improperly antibodies directed against phospholipids negatively charged like for example Cardiolipin, Phosphatidyl serine, Phosphatidyl inositol, Phosphatidic acid, Phosphatidyl choline, Lyso-phosphatidyl choline and Phosphatidyl ethanolamine; more correctly the term anti-phospholipid antibodies indicate those antibodies directed against the complex between β2GPI and anionic phospholipids that can bind to the fifth domain of β2GPI. Among these, the Cardiolipin is the most commonly used phospholipid as an antigen for determining the aPL with ELISA method.
The occurrence of anti-cardiolipin antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and related diseases is typical of a secondary anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). In contrast, anti-cardiolipin antibodies in patients with no other autoimmune diseases characterize the primary anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). Many studies have shown a correlation between these autoantibodies and an enhanced incidence of thrombosis, thrombocytopenia and habitual abortions (as a consequence of placental infarct).
The antibodies against phospholipids are less commonly used, even if their use may increase the clinical sensitivity of patients samples with suspected Anti-phospholipid Syndrome (APS), but it cannot replace the determination of autoantibodies anti-Cardiolipin.