Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with idiopathic autoimmune haemolytic anemia.

Isolated cases of anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL)-associated idiopathic autoimmune haemolytic anemia (IAHA) have been recently described. To assess the significances of this association, we studied by ELISA the presence of aPL in sera from 18 patients with IAHA and 14 patients with non-autoimmune haemolysis (NON-AH). Four IAHA cases and none of the NON-AH controls showed IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) that crossreacted extensively with zwitterionic as well as with other anionic phospholipids. IgG aCL were detected in 6 patients with IAHA and in 1 patient with NON-AH; there was little cross-reactivity with other phospholipids. Our results suggest that antiphospholipid antibodies are present in a substantial number of patients with IAHA. This humoral response does not seem to be secondary to the haemolysis proper. The potential pathogenic significance of this finding is discussed.