Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Our study evaluates in an unselected young population with cerebral ischemia the frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies; the relationship of antiphospholipid antibodies to conventional risk factors for and pathological mechanisms of cerebral ischemia; and the risk of recurrence of cerebral ischemia or systemic thrombotic events in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies compared with those without.

METHODS:

We prospectively tested for antiphospholipid antibodies in 55 of 59 young (aged 15-44 years) adults consecutively examined for ischemic stroke (n = 44) or transient ischemic attack (n = 11). These patients underwent a complete clinical and laboratory assessment for cerebral ischemia and had a 3-year mean follow-up.

RESULTS:

Ten patients (18%), all with stroke, had antiphospholipid antibodies. Antiphospholipid antibodies were significantly more frequent in women than in men (Fisher's test, p = 0.014). Two patients with antiphospholipid antibodies had a new diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. On angiography, none of the patients with antiphospholipid antibodies had extracranial lesions. Patients with antiphospholipid antibodies had significantly more prior cerebral events (Fisher's test, p = 0.014), and, by survival analysis, higher probability of cerebral ischemic or systemic thrombotic events during follow-up than patients without (log rank test, p less than 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS:

We conclude that the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies is rather high in young adults with cerebral ischemia; that patients with cerebral ischemia and antiphospholipid antibodies may have unrecognized systemic lupus erythematosus; and that, among young patients with cerebral ischemia, patients with antiphospholipid antibodies constitute a subgroup at high risk of cerebral ischemic or systemic thrombotic recurrence. Prevention in this latter group may require close follow-up and treatment.