Summary
Laboratory diagnosis of antiphospholipid antibodies is important in patients with
clinical features of the antiphospholipid syndrome, such as thrombosis and fetal loss.
We have developed a novel method for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies
using flow cytometry. Anionic phospholipids cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol
are coated onto polystyrene beads of different sizes, allowing detection and semiquantitation
of their respective phospholipid antibody isotypes. The results of the flow cytometric
method closely correlate those of the standardised anticardiolipin enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA), but the method is quicker and is versatile in its ability to detect
IgG, IgM and IgA antibody isotypes at the same time. The method promises to be useful
in evaluating the significance of phospholipid specificity and antibody isotypes in
patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome.
