800 participants from 17 hospitals were involved in this study conducted by Karolinska Institutet researchers. Patients had suffered their first myocardial infarction, their blood was analysed for 6-10 weeks for 3 different antiphospholipid antibody types: immunoglobulin G (IgG); M (IgM); and A (IgA). 11% of subjects were found to have antiphospholipid antibodies against both cardiolipin and ?2glycoprotein-1, amounts that are 10 times higher than that of controls. Increase was only found in the IgG antibodies that are considered to be most associated with blood clots.
It was noted that the measurement was only done on an single occasion, so it is not impossible that it may reflect temporary reactions to the infarction. Should levels of antiphospholipid antibody levels remain elevated for a further 3 months, by definition those patients have APS; in which case according to current recommendations they should be prescribed lifelong treatments with anticoagulants to reduce risks of new blood clots; which would change prevailing guidelines for the investigation and treatment of heart attacks, says Professor Elisabet Svenungsson.
