To investigate lipoprotein levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) positivity and to evaluate whether an abnormal lipid profile might be associated with an altered risk of vascular disorders.
137 female patients were evaluated for their aCL levels (isotypes IgG and IgM); concentrations of plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins; and for the occurrence of thrombotic events. The patients were grouped according to their aCL positivity.
Higher rates of venous and/or arterial thrombosis were diagnosed in all the RA patients compared to the controls (p = 0.01). Lower levels of the high density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein AI, were found in these patients (p = 0.001). Higher levels of lipoprotein (a) were observed in RA patients when compared to controls in both aCL positive and negative RA patients (P = 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively).
The presence of aCL and an altered lipid profile may represent an important risk factor for thrombotic events in patients affected by RA.