British Journal of Rheumatology 1998;37:1129–1131 ABSENCE OF ANTI-b2 GLYCOPROTEIN I ANTIBODIES IN GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A STUDY OF 45 BIOPSY-PROVEN CASES

Objective. To search for a relationship between serum anti-b2 glycoprotein I (anti-b2GPI) antibodies and the occurrence of ischaemic complications in giant cell arteritis (GCA), since the latter do not correlate with anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACL), which are frequently observed in GCA. Methods. IgG and IgM anti-b2GPI antibodies and ACL were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in sera, collected before treatment, from 45 unselected patients with biopsy-proven GCA, including 15 patients with ischaemic events. Results. IgG and IgM anti-b2GPI antibodies were not detected in any of the patients, contrasting with the presence of ACL in 51% of them, without correlation with ischaemia. Conclusion. Anti-b2GPI antibodies are not detectable in GCA, contrasting with the occurrence of ACL, and ischaemic complications are apparently unrelated to the most frequent anti-phospholipid antibodies.