<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Lupus anticoagulant (LAC) belongs to a heterogeneous group of antibodies directed against negatively charged phospholipid-binding proteins, inhibiting phospholipid-dependent reactions. We assessed the frequency, etiological background, clinical and biological expression as well as the appropriate management and outcome of LAC in a pediatric population.
<bold>Patients and methods:</bold> We included 19 pediatric patients diagnosed with a positive LAC test during a period of 1 year. LAC detection was carried out according to the ISTH/SCC guidelines 2012. Coagulometric assays were performed in order to check for coagulation factor activities. The presence of specific inhibitors has been tested by the Bethesda assay.
<bold>Results:</bold> LAC was positive in 0.4% of the patients monitored for increased activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) during the study period of 1 year. In contrast to the asymptomatic clinical image presented by the majority of our patients, the biological picture was dominated by an elevated aPTT (79 %), the aPTT ratio correlating significantly with the strength of LAC. In 58 % of the patients LAC became negative within 12 weeks, in another 4 (21%) patients within 20 weeks, whereas in 4 (21%) patients LAC remained positive throughout the follow-up.
<bold>Conclusion</bold>: Albeit usually innocent in asymptomatic patients, LAC needs to be seriously taken into consideration from the diagnostic point of view in order to avoid dangerous therapeutic attitudes..
</abstract>

Introduction: Lupus anticoagulant (LAC) belongs to a heterogeneous group of antibodies directed against negatively charged phospholipid-binding proteins, inhibiting phospholipid-dependent reactions. We assessed the frequency, etiological background, clinical and biological expression as well as the appropriate management and outcome of LAC in a pediatric population.
Patients and methods: We included 19 pediatric patients diagnosed with a positive LAC test during a period of 1 year. LAC detection was carried out according to the ISTH/SCC guidelines 2012. Coagulometric assays were performed in order to check for coagulation factor activities. The presence of specific inhibitors has been tested by the Bethesda assay.
Results: LAC was positive in 0.4% of the patients monitored for increased activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) during the study period of 1 year. In contrast to the asymptomatic clinical image presented by the majority of our patients, the biological picture was dominated by an elevated aPTT (79 %), the aPTT ratio correlating significantly with the strength of LAC. In 58 % of the patients LAC became negative within 12 weeks, in another 4 (21%) patients within 20 weeks, whereas in 4 (21%) patients LAC remained positive throughout the follow-up.
Conclusion: Albeit usually innocent in asymptomatic patients, LAC needs to be seriously taken into consideration from the diagnostic point of view in order to avoid dangerous therapeutic attitudes..

Lupus anticoagulant in children – a confounding factor in diagnosis and targeted therapy

“Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara

Department of Onco-hematology, Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences, Onco-Hematology Research Unit

Department of Psycho-neurosciences and Rehabilitation

University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy

Department of Puericulture and Neonatology

Revista Romana de Medicina de Laborator

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Introduction: Lupus anticoagulant (LAC) belongs to a heterogeneous group of antibodies directed against negatively charged phospholipid-binding proteins,...

Lupus anticoagulant in children – a confounding factor in diagnosis and targeted therapy

Published Online: Jul 31, 2021

Page range: 287 - 298

Received: Mar 19, 2021

Accepted: Jun 21, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rrlm-2021-0021

Keywords
antiphospholipid syndrome, acquired hemophilia, activated partial thromboplastin time, lupus anticoagulant

© 2021 Cristian Jinca et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Lupus anticoagulant in children – a confounding factor in diagnosis and targeted therapy

Published Online: Jul 31, 2021

Page range: 287 - 298

Received: Mar 19, 2021

Accepted: Jun 21, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rrlm-2021-0021

Keywordsantiphospholipid syndrome, acquired hemophilia, activated partial thromboplastin time, lupus anticoagulant

© 2021 Cristian Jinca et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
antiphospholipid syndrome, acquired hemophilia, activated partial thromboplastin time, lupus anticoagulant