Anti-[beta]2 Glycoprotein 1 and the Anti-phospholipid Syndrome

Purpose To describe a patient who presented with bilateral retinal vascular occlusion and the use of anti-β2 glycoprotein 1 (GPI) antibody testing in the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome. Design Observational case report. Methods Hematological investigations were performed on a 49-year-old man who presented with rapid onset of bilateral severe central retinal vein occlusion. Results Lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody testing was negative. Markedly raised titers of anti-β2 GPI antibodies were detected on two separate occasions. Conclusions The raised titers of anti-β2 GPI antibodies were considered to strongly suggest an underlying diagnosis of the antiphospholipid syndrome.