anticardiolipin antibodies

[Yula]

I am 18 years old and was diagnosed for anticardiolipin antibodies about 3 years ago. Since then, I receive a daily dose of Aspirin to prevent complications.
My last blood test showed that I don't currently have the antibodies, but I have all the symptoms. Does this mean I don't have the condition any more? And if I do, what else can I do to control it?
P.s. - where can I find more information about this condition?

[april11michelle]

Hi I was diagnosed with anti cardio lipin antibody when I was on my 3rd pregnancy the first two were miscarriages than my dr tested me for it I was young didnt get the numbers or anythn and only took asprin when I was pregnant and havnt gotten checkd or takn asprin for 7 yrs my dr didnt explain how serious this was and I thought I only had it when I would get pregnant. Is this somethn that can go away on its own or am I always goin to have this syndrome. I been havn a pain on my left leg for several months is that related? And I jus feel myself more tired than usuall and my body aches alot can anybody help me my appt is not till dec 2 and im driving myself crazy with all these worries

[anne1948]

A related discussion, heart surgery question was started.

[Dee41]

A related discussion, anti-cardiolipin was started.

[Carol Quinn]

My friend was diagnosed with anticardiolipin. She has had a couple strokes and on the first one she lost vision in her right eye. This first stroke was in March and she is just starting to get her eyesight back. She has just started taking shots of heprin daily and then they are going to put her on cumadin. She is very tired and has had irregular MRI's. She also is having
"floaters" in her good eye that may last for about 45 minutes and are quite large and come every few weeks.
She is only 40 years old, has anyone else lost their eye sight and if so has it come back?
Any info would be helpful and I will give it to my friend.
Please email me at:***@****
Thanks!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Clara:

Your levels of anticardiolipin antibodies are low and should not be causing you any trouble with endocrine function.

CCF Neuro MD

[clara]

I am currently trying to get pregnant and have tested as of January this year in the low positive range for IgG AB (15 and 19), positive (1:80)for Smooth Muscle AB, and have a 40/diffuse result on my ANA. My FSH level has been as high as 38 (4 months ago) and has dropped to 19 as of a month ago.  I have been taking a baby aspirin daily for the past three months.

What is the relationship between anticardiolipins and FSH?  I am 39 years old and my menstrual cycle has ranged from 42 to 61 days in length since my second miscarriage last August.  I did have a D and C as I was in my 16th week. My OB does not think this past miscarriage was related to my anticardiolipins. I do have a toddler and that pregnancy was uneventful.

I am adopted and have no information on my medical hastory.
I have no clinical symptoms other than tingling in my feet every once in awhile.

I am trying to find information on the relationship between a sudden change in fertility and anticardiolipins. All the information I can find is on being pregnant, not on trying to get pregnant.

[clara]

I am currently trying to get pregnant and have tested as of January this year in the low positive range for IgG AB (15 and 19), positive (1:80)for Smooth Muscle AB, and have a 40/diffuse result on my ANA. My FSH level has been as high as 38 (4 months ago) and has dropped to 19 as of a month ago.  I have been taking a baby aspirin daily for the past three months.

What is the relationship between anticardiolipins and FSH?  I am 39 years old and my menstrual cycle has ranged from 42 to 61 days in length since my second miscarriage last August.  I did have a D and C as I was in my 16th week. My OB does not think this past miscarriage was related to my anticardiolipins. I do have a toddler and that pregnancy was uneventful.

I am adopted and have no information on my medical hastory.
I have no clinical symptoms other than tingling in my feet every once in awhile.

I am trying to find information on the relationship between a sudden change in fertility and anticardiolipins. All the information I can find is on being pregnant, not on trying to get pregnant.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Michelle:

I do not know what a high platelet sedimentation rate means????  Do you have the Leiden mutation?  You are more prone to coagulation of your platelets and therefore things like stroke, MI, DVT, etc.  I would think that your family physician would be following you closely.  Since he or she knows your history best, I will leave it up to him/her to give you anti-platelet medications.

CCF Neuro MD

[Michelle]

I was just done lab work and was informed that my Anticardiolipin AB, IgG, QN came back very high (80) It also came back that my platelets SED RATE also was high (26) The other thing was my coagulation Studies INr came back (74.9) What the all this mean and does this affect me have a complicated pregnancy if I ever become prenant in the future.  (Iwas told that I was high risk becase of all these factors.  Olease inform me what steps need to be taken!  I am also allergic to asprin!!! Can you please help me?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the comment.

CCF Neuro MD

[nykthanx]

yula, i have the same condition and i was told by my doctor that it is a condition that never goes away.  it might go into remission and thus show no signs of it in bloodwork but it is still there and it will still affect your body. look at the lupas sights for more info on it.  The lupas foundation of america had the most.  it is related to lupas and there is a greater chance for you and me to get lupas because we have the condition.  I was told to stay out of the sun and always wear a hat and sunsceen if I do go in the sun.  If you are photosensitive then the lupas will develop much quicker if you spend time in the sun.  sucks uh!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Denise:

If you don't stop the aspirin, you will have a increased chance of bleeding after surgery.  Ten days is actually a short time to stop, but should be adequate.  I would not worry about clotting.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[DENISE]

I was diagnosed with Lupus 12 years ago and 1 year ago I was told that I now also have anticardiolipin antibodies.
I am scheduled for a surgical proceedure in 2 weeks. My Rheumatologist told me to discontinue the 81% asprin I take daily since being diagnosed with anticardiolipin antibodies 10 days prior to my surgery. Do I need to then be concerned with blood clotting?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the comment.

CCF Neuro MD

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Ms. Hamilton:

Anticardiolipin antibodies are made to negatively charaged lipids found in the mitochondria inner membrane.  They are seen after viral infections, stroke, etc.  They are also found in some without any insult.  We are not sure of the reason.  There is no known correlation between pseudotumor cerebri and anticardiolipin antibodies that I know of.

CCF Neuro MD

[Deborah Hamilton]

What are anticardiolipin antibodies and how do they affect pseudotumor cerebri?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Ken:

I can't answer your question, you'll have to talk to your physician who is ordering the coumadin.

CCF Neuro MD

[Ken]

I have tested positive for anticardiolipin antibodies on two tests in the past year.  Fourteen years ago and 10 years ago, respectively, I had a retinal vein occlusion and a retinal artery occlusion.  I was on aspirin therapy for five years without a retinal event, but am now on Coumadin (5mg/day--INR between 2.5 and 3.5) because of the positive anticardiolipin findings. I'm wondering whether I can safely switch back to aspirin.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Kathy McGovern:

It is something that is passed on by your genes.  An example is eye color, blood type etc.

CCF Neuro MD

[kathy mcgovern]

Is his heridity?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Tom:

Without doing an examination, history, etc it is impossible to tell you.  It could arise from poor circulation due to a heart problem, collagen vascular disease, kidney problem, neuropathy, stroke, medications, autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, amyloidosis, mitochondrial disease, multiple systemic atrophy, infection, ......

CCF Neuro MD

[tom]

I always have extremley cold hands, to the point where they are purplish/blue when I'm not wearing gloves.  What could this be a result of?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Janet:

I air plane flight should be okay.  The cabin is pressurized so there shouldn't be any problems with oxygen content etc.  However, make sure you drink plenty of fluids as the air in airplanes is extremely dry (humidity-wise).

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[janet]

I am aged 55 and have: antibodies to cardiolipin at 12 GPL U/ml (<6); C-reactive protein  minimally elevated to 10 mg/L (<5); lymphopenia due to reduction in all T and B lymphocytes; peri-ventricular white matter lesions; elevated cholesterol & triglycerides ( a recent change - the levels always used to be in the "protection probable" range); Behcet's syndrome; a history of 2 episodes of sudden cyanosis requiring oxygen; a history of sleep apnoea (over 100 'events' in one night when monitored at a sleep clinic - but not now occurring).
Childhood history of pericarditis and pleural effusions, with enlarged heart (x3) - but now presumably normal size - ECG  shows long QT interval (I have a tendency to sudden sensation as if my heart loses rhythm and I'm going to collapse - which fortunately passes).

In spite of all this I feel and look well!  My question is, is it likely to be safe for me to fly?  I am trying to decide whether or not to embark on a flight from London England to New Zealand - 2 flights of about 12 hours duration each to get there and then the same to get back 2 weeks later.  Although it would be nice to go, the trip is not a "must do" trip and I only want to undertake it if it seems a safe bet. I wonder about the risk of thrombosis?  

Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated.