Absence of anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibodies in giant cell arteritis:: A study of 45 biopsy-proven cases

Objective. To search for a relationship between serum anti-beta 2 glycoprotcin I (anti-beta 2GPI) antibodies and the occurrence of ischaemic complications in giant cell arteritis (CCA), since the latter do not correlate with anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACL), which are frequently observed in GCA. Methods. IgG and IgM anti-beta 2GPI antibodies and ACL were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays in sera, collected before treatment, from 45 unselected patients with biopsy-proven GCA, inducing 15 patients with ischaemic events. Results. IgG and IgM anti-beta 2GPI antibodies were not detected in any of the patients, contrasting with the presence of ACL in 51% of them, without correlation with ischaemia. Conclusion. Anti-beta 2GPI antibodies are not detectable in GCA, contrasting with the occurrence of ACL, and ischaemic complications are apparently unrelated to the most frequent anti-phospholipid antibodies.