Lupus Anticoagulant: Interference with In Vivo Prostaglandin Production and with Platelet Sensitivity to Prostacyclin

Abstract

Schinco PC, Marranca D, Bazzan M, Borchiellini A, Fantino A, Garis G, Melzi E, Modena V, Tamponi G, Tavella AM, Pileri A, Benedetto C. Lupus Anticoagulant: Interference with In Vivo Prostaglandin Production and with Platelet Sensitivity to Prostacyclin. Scand J Rheumatol. 1992; 21: 124–28.

The hypothesis has been made that inhibition of prostacyclin (PGI2) production may play a role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in patients with the lupus anticoagulant (LA), but so far no evidence of reduced PGI2 levels in vivo has been produced. We have tested the plasma levels of PGI2 and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and the platelet sensitivity to PGI2 in 14 patients with and without LA and in 14 healthy controls. No significant difference in the portioned basal levels was detected among the groups; however, in some patients PGI2 increments seemed to parallel the clinical course of the disease. Platelet sensitivity to exogenous PG12 was significantly enhanced in the LA + patients and correlated with PGU values. We suggest that in these subjects additional factors, other than reduced PG12, may predispose to thrombosis.

Key Words:

• lupus anticoagulant
• prostaglandins
• platelet sensitivity