Antibodies to Phosphatidylethanolamine as the only Antiphospholipid Antibodies Found in Patients with Unexplained Thromboses

Summary The objective of this study was to assess the interest of antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) in unexplained thrombosis (UT) defined as thrombotic episode without any of the main autoimmune and hereditary thrombophilic defects. Results from 98 UT were compared to those of (I) 142 patients with thrombophilia: 67 antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and 75 hereditary hemostatic defects (HHD); (II) 110 patients without thrombosis: 60 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 50 with infectious diseases (ID). As compared to controls (100 blood donors), aPE prevalence was significantly higher in both autoimmune contexts (APS: 43%; SLE: 40%, p