Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterised by increased venous and arterial thrombotic risk. Although
antiphospholipid antibodies (APAs) have been shown to be related with thrombotic tendency in these patients, in more than 40% of them,
thrombosis occurs without the presence of such
antibodies. We analysed the association of venous and arterial thrombotic events with acquired (
anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) and
lupus anticoagulant (LA)) and inherited (antithrombin (AT),
protein C (PC),
protein S (PS)
deficiencies, factor V Leiden and the
prothrombin G20210A mutation), thrombophilic risk factors in 86 SLE patients and 89 healthy controls. Patients showed a higher significant percentage of ACAs titres
IgG>41 GPL u/ml and LA than controls (P=0.009; P<0.001, respectively), although no differences in AT, PC, PS
deficiencies, factor V Leiden and
prothrombin G20210A mutation was observed (P>0.05). When patients with and without
thrombosis were compared, those with
thrombosis showed a statistically higher percentage of ACAs
IgG>41 GPL u/ml and LA (P=0.048; P=0.001, respectively), OR 4.33; 95% CI 1.01-18.50 and OR 11.57; 95% CI 3.28-40.75, respectively. When venous and arterial thrombotic events were considered separately, the presence of LA constituted a risk factor for arterial
thrombosis (P=0.010), OR 11.33; 95% CI 1.86-68.89, as well as for
venous thrombosis (P=0.005), OR 10.15; 95% CI 2.12-48.64, while ACAs
IgG>41 GPL u/ml on their own, were not associated with arterial or
venous thrombosis (P=0.142, P=0.233, respectively). In addition inherited thrombophilic risk factors AT, PC, PS
deficiencies, factor V Leiden and PT G20210A mutation do not seem to increase thrombotic risk in SLE patients.