Prevalence and significance of persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies in women with preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective. To determine the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and their association with obstetric outcomes in women with preeclampsia. Methods. The study included 150 patients. Clinical variables, risk factors, and severity criteria for preeclampsia and aPL were analyzed. Results. We found aPL in 4% of patients without risk factors for preeclampsia and in no women with risk factors (p = 0.03). Fifty percent of aPL-positive patients had a fetus with intrauterine growth restriction versus 13.9% (p = 0.04). No relation between aPL and severe preeclampsia was found. Conclusion. The prevalence of aPL among women with preeclampsia is low. aPL can predispose women without risk factors to preeclampsia.