Recurrent thrombosis in patients with deep vein thrombosis and/or venous thromboembolism associated with anticardiolipin antibodies.

Anticardiolipin antibodies represent one of the main hypercoagulation states associated with venous thromboembolism. The aim of this work was to evaluate symptomatic recurrent thrombosis in patients with anticardiolipin antibodies and deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs with or without thromboembolism. Sixty patients who suffered from deep vein thrombosis were observed for a 5-year period, whether they had anticardiolipin antibodies or not. The group was made up of 34 females and 26 males with ages ranging from 13 to 73 years. All were diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis by means of phlebography and were tested for anticardiolipin antibodies by use of the ELISA method. The symptomatic signs of recurrent thrombosis were evaluated during this period. In total, 56.6% of the group were considered above normal for anticardiolipin antibodies, 25% positive, another 31.6% borderline, and 43.4% negative. Patients were tested positive when the anticardiolipin antibody count was >15 units/mL, borderline between 10 and 15 units/mL, and normal when <10 units/mL. The method of relative risk was used for statistical analysis of the results. Four positive patients, 1 borderline, and 1 normal patient had recurrent events of thrombosis. In the statistical analysis the relative risk for recurrent thrombosis in the positive patients was 6.0; CI 95%; 1.2 to 29.5. In conclusion patients with deep vein thrombosis who are positive for anticardiolipin antibodies present a higher risk of recurrent thrombosis.