Biological Value of Annexin AV and Anti-annexin Antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and Anti-phospholipid (Hughes) syndrome

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Anti-phospholipid (APL) antibodies arc frequently found in SLE patients. Fifty percent of Anti-phospholipid syndrome(APS) is secondary to SLE. Annexin AV (ANX AV) exhibits anti-coagulant properties, but aPL antibodies formed against it interfere with its function. The study aimed to investigate whether anti-annexin AV (aANX AV) antibodies (lgM/IgG) or ANX AV plasma level is related to pathophysiology of SLEor APS. Measurement of aANX AVantibodies (lgM/G) and ANX AV plasma level by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in 40 patients divided into two groups SLE and APS and 20 healthy control of matched age. Anti-ANX AV lgM antibodies were significantly associated with APS; this was revealed when we compared patients with Primary APS and Secondary APS to the control group. There was significant difference in ANX AV plasma level when compared SLE to Primary APS and Secondary to Primary APS. ANX AV plasma levels were not affected by the presence of Anti ANV lg M/G. Conclusively, it could be suggested that the ANX AV plasma level may contribute to susceptibility (low levels) or the protection (high levels) against hypercoagulability in APS patient. It may also reflect the severity of SLE. In addition, ANX AV plasma levels are not affected by the presence of Anti ANV lgM/G. ANX AV plasma levels may be an import tool in diagnosis and also target for treatment.