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Anticardiolipin antibodies in ischaemic heart disease: marker or myth?
  1. K V Phadke,
  2. R A Phillips,
  3. D T Clarke,
  4. M Jones,
  5. P Naish,
  6. P Carson
  1. Department of Cardiology, North Staffordshire Hospital Centre, Stoke-on-Trent.

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVES--To assess the incidence and significance of anticardiolipin antibodies after myocardial infarction and in unstable angina. DESIGN--A prospective study of all patients under 60 admitted to the coronary care unit over a 12 month period with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction who were followed up for a further 12 months. Patients admitted with unstable angina were similarly assessed but not followed up. Anticardiolipin antibody concentrations were compared with those of age matched controls. SETTING--A district general hospital. PATIENTS--307 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 160 patients with unstable angina. RESULTS--Anticardiolipin antibody concentrations in the two patient groups did not differ significantly from those in the control groups. Antibody concentrations were not related to a history of angina or myocardial infarction nor were they related to subsequent cardiovascular complications. CONCLUSION--This study shows no significant association between anticardiolipin antibody concentrations and either myocardial infarction or unstable angina.

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