ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES IN CHILDREN WITH HEPATIC VASCULAR THROMBOSIS : PORTAL VEIN THROMBOSIS OR VENO-OCCLUSIVE DISEASE

Abstract

Esophageal varices, hemorrhage and splenomegaly are often the presenting manifestations of portal vein thrombosis in children. Though hypercoagulable states are implicated in the causation of portal vein thrombosis and veno-occlusive disease, the etiology remains unknown in most cases. Presence of anticardiolipin antibodies is a known cause of hypercoagulable state. We therefore studied the frequency of anticardiolipin antibodies IgG and lgM in patients with portal vein thrombosis and veno-occlusive disease. Methods: Sera were obtained from 22 patients with portal vein thrombosis, 3 patients with veno-occlusive disease, and 10 healthy controls. IgG and IgM levels were measured using asolid phase enzyme immuno assay. Values exceeding mean + 2SD of healthy controls were taken as abnormal. Our results showed significant increase in IgG anticardiolipin antibodies among patients with portal vein thrombosis and veno-occlusive disease in comparison to the control group. The levels of JgG anticardiolipin antibodies in patients of portal vein thrombosis and veno-occlusive disease (25 patients) were above the cut off value of the normal control children in 13 patients(52%) All the levels of the normal control group wer below the cut off value. Accordingly we can conclude that: Anticardiolipin antibodies specially IgG levels increase significantly in patients with portal vein thrombosis and veno-occlusive disease and this abnormal elevation of anticardioilpin antibodies (IgG) may be responsible for the tendency to portal vein thrombosis and veno-occlusive disease in children so