Clotting
Cardiolipine antistoffen
Antibodies against one of the body's own fat-like cell components; part of testing for antiphospholipid syndrome.
Everything about this testWhat it measures
Cardiolipin is a fat-like substance (phospholipid) found in cell membranes, including in mitochondria and platelets. This test checks whether there are antibodies against cardiolipin in the blood. These are autoantibodies: antibodies that the body makes against its own tissue by mistake. In some of the people who have them permanently, the blood clots more easily; that combination with thrombosis or pregnancy problems is called antiphospholipid syndrome. This test measures the IgG and IgM classes together; some laboratories also report them separately.
- Support when antiphospholipid syndrome is suspected, a condition in which the blood clots more easily
- Possible explanation for thrombosis at a young age, thrombosis that comes back or thrombosis in an unusual place
- Possible explanation for repeated miscarriages or other pregnancy problems
Positive
A positive result means that antibodies against cardiolipin were found. That is not yet a diagnosis. According to the Dutch Society for Clinical Chemistry (NVKC), the test is repeated after about 12 weeks to see whether the antibodies are persistent or temporary. If they remain present and there has also been thrombosis or a pregnancy problem, there is reason to consider antiphospholipid syndrome. A one-off slightly positive result is common after an infection, with some medicines and at older age, and then usually means nothing.
Negative
A negative result means that no antibodies against cardiolipin were found. This does not rule out antiphospholipid syndrome: it involves three tests, and someone can have only lupus anticoagulant or only antibodies against beta-2 glycoprotein I. In people with lupus (SLE), the test is therefore sometimes repeated, according to the Dutch Society for Clinical Chemistry (NVKC), because they may still develop lupus anticoagulant later.
If your result is abnormal
After a positive result, the test is repeated after about 12 weeks, according to the Dutch Society for Clinical Chemistry (NVKC), to see whether the antibodies persist. If they do and there has also been thrombosis or a pregnancy problem, the GP refers you to an internist (specialist in internal medicine); there, lupus anticoagulant and antibodies against beta-2 glycoprotein I are also measured. According to the Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS), a positive result without thrombosis or a pregnancy problem is no reason to start blood thinners.
Reliability
The result is mainly meaningful after thrombosis or repeated miscarriages. In people without such events, the chance of antiphospholipid syndrome is very small and false-positive results are much more common than the condition itself. According to the Dutch medical specialists' guideline (FMS), the result only counts if it is positive again after about 12 weeks and the amount of antibodies is clearly raised. A single positive result without symptoms or events is no reason for treatment.
Limitations
- A temporary positive result is common during or shortly after an infection, with some medicines and at older age; the Dutch Society for Clinical Chemistry (NVKC) therefore advises repeating the test after about 12 weeks.
- Only a persistently positive result with a clearly raised amount counts; a slightly raised value measured once says little.
- Cardiolipin antibodies are only one of the three tests for antiphospholipid syndrome; the other two are lupus anticoagulant and antibodies against beta-2 glycoprotein I.
- Laboratories use different methods and cut-off values; results from different labs cannot simply be compared.
How common is this
Antiphospholipid syndrome is rare. Cardiolipin antibodies are found much more often than the syndrome occurs: also in healthy people, temporarily after infections and more often at older age. Thrombosis itself is fairly common, but usually has another cause, such as surgery, sitting still for a long time, pregnancy or the pill.
Who is this useful for
Useful when a doctor has a specific question: thrombosis at a young age or in an unusual place, thrombosis that comes back without a trigger, repeated miscarriages or other pregnancy problems, or a known autoimmune disease such as lupus. In people without such events, the predictive value is low: a positive result then usually does not mean that you have antiphospholipid syndrome, and no treatment follows.
Downsides and risks
- A positive result without thrombosis and without pregnancy problems is common and usually means nothing. This can lead to unnecessary worry about thrombosis and to repeated tests without anything being found.
- A negative result does not rule out antiphospholipid syndrome, because lupus anticoagulant and antibodies against beta-2 glycoprotein I are measured separately.
Sources
Always discuss an abnormal result with your GP. If a result is strongly abnormal, we try to reach you as soon as possible. Read your result yourself as well and contact your GP if in doubt. A test does not make a diagnosis. Read more about risks and results