Patent Foramen Ovale, Cardiac Valve Thickening, and Antiphospholipid Antibodies as Risk Factors for Subsequent Vascular Events The PICSS-APASS Study

OBJECTIVES: (1) Estimate risk of recurrent stroke/TIA/death in the subgroup of the Patent foramen ovale in the Cryptogenic Stroke Study (PICSS) cohort with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and (2) Estimate risk of recurrent stroke/TIA/death in aPL positive patients who have thickened left-sided heart valves (VaT). BACKGROUND: PFO is associated with cryptogenic ischemic stroke. Also, the presence of aPL is associated with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. DESIGN/METHODS: Combined data from 2 major sub studies of the Warfarin Aspirin Recurrent Stroke Trial (WARSS) were evaluated. PICSS subjects were included if they were enrolled in the Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Stroke Study (APASS) and had a baseline aPL test (lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, or both) within one month of the stroke. All patients in PICSS underwent transesophageal echocardiography for PFO as well as VaT, which was performed blinded to aPL status and treatment arm (325mg/d aspirin or adjusted dose warfarin, target INR 1.4–2.8). The primary outcome event was the 2-year risk of recurrent stroke/TIA/death and was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards model. As there was no treatment effect, warfarin and aspirin groups were combined to increase power. For the combined endpoint, power to detect a HR of 2 was 47.8% for the PFO and aPL positive group, and 75.3% for the valve thickening and aPL positive group, assuming two-sided type I error of 0.05 RESULTS: 525 subjects were tested for the combined presence of PFO and aPL and were available for evaluation. The primary outcome event rate was 23.9% (HR 1.39, 95% CI 0.75–2.59) in the PFO positive/aPL positive group, compared to 13.9% (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.44–1.56) in the PFO positive/aPL negative group and 19.9% (HR 1.16 95% CI 0.68–1.90) in the PFO negative/aPL positive group. 545 subjects tested for combined presence of aPL and left sided cardiac VaT were available for evaluation. The primary event rate was 22.6% (HR1.65, 95% CI 0.88–3.09) in the VaT positive/aPL positive group, compared to 19.4% (HR 1.50, 95% CI 0.82–2.75) in the VaT positive/aPL negative group and 20.2% (HR 1.63, 95% CI 0.81–3.25) in the VaT negative /aPL positive group. CONCLUSIONS: The combined presence of aPL with either a PFO or with left sided cardiac VaT did not significantly increase risk of subsequent cerebrovascular events in this PICCS/APASS cohort of patients

Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Recurrent Thrombotic Events: Persistence and Portfolio

BACKGROUND: There are very limited prospective data on the significance of persistent of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and recurrent thrombo-occlusive events (TOEs). We investigated the prognostic value of (1) two newer aPL assays, (2) an aPL portfolio, and (3) persistent aPL positivity following stroke. METHODS: 1,770 subjects from the APASS-WARSS study underwent further aPL testing for antibodies to phosphatidylserine (aPS) and β(2)-glycoprotein-I (anti-β(2)GPI) from stored sera. Follow-up aPL status was also tested in a subset of subjects. Primary analysis was based on time to any TOE (ischemic stroke, MI, TIA, DVT, PE, or systemic arterial occlusion)/death at 2 years. Cox proportional hazard analyses assessed whether aPL independently related to outcome. RESULTS: Persistent anti-β(2)GPI decreased the time to TOE/death after adjustment for potential confounders (HR=2.86, CI 1.21-6.76, p=0.017). When persistent anti-β(2)GPI was combined with another persistently positive aPL, time to TOE/death was also reduced (HR=3.79, CI 1.18-12.14, p=0.025). Neither persistent aCL, persistent aPS alone, nor a single positive anti-β(2)GPI or aPS was associated with decreased time to TOE/death. No single positive aPL, portfolio of baseline aPL, or any persistent aPL increased the rate of TOE/death. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of TOE/death were not influenced by aPL results at baseline or follow-up. Persistent anti-β(2)GPI alone and with persistent second aPL were independently associated with decreased time to TOE/death. Persistent aPL, an aPL portfolio, and newer aPL in ischemic stroke patients are not helpful in predicting an increased rate of recurrent TOEs

Antiphospholipid antibodies and subsequent thrombo-occlusive events in patients with ischemic stroke

The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) has been associated with vascular occlusive events. However, the role of aPL in predicting ischemic events, particularly recurrent ischemic stroke, is controversial. To evaluate the effect of baseline aPL positivity (ie, positivity for anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL], lupus anticoagulant antibodies [LA], or both) on subsequent thrombo-occlusive events, including recurrent stroke. The Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Stroke Study (APASS), a prospective cohort study within the Warfarin vs Aspirin Recurrent Stroke Study (WARSS), a randomized double-blind trial (N = 2206) conducted at multiple US clinical sites from June 1993 through June 2000 and comparing adjusted-dose warfarin (target international normalized ratio, 1.4-2.8) and aspirin (325 mg/d) for prevention of recurrent stroke or death. APASS participants were 1770 (80%) WARSS participants who consented to enroll in the APASS, with usable baseline blood samples drawn prior to randomization to the WARSS and analyzed for aPL status within 90 days of index stroke by a central independent laboratory. Quality assurance was performed on approximately 10% of samples by a second independent laboratory. Two-year rate of the composite end point of death from any cause, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and other systemic thrombo-occlusive events. The primary analysis assessed the outcome associated with aPL positivity within each WARSS treatment group separately, after risk-factor adjustment (since these aPL-positive vs aPL-negative comparisons were not randomized). Of the 1770 APASS patients, 720 (41%) were classified as aPL-positive and 1050 (59%) as aPL-negative. There was no increased risk of thrombo-occlusive events associated with baseline aPL status in patients treated with either warfarin (relative risk [RR], 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-1.31; P =.94), or aspirin (RR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.70-1.28; P =.71). The overall event rate was 22.2% among aPL-positive and 21.8% among aPL-negative patients. There was no treatment x aPL interaction (P =.91). Patients with baseline positivity for both LA and aCL antibodies tended to have a higher event rate (31.7%) than did patients who tested negative for both antibodies (24.0%) (unadjusted RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.97-1.92; P =.07). Classification and regression tree analyses did not identify a specific LA test or aCL isotype or titer that was associated with increased risk of thrombo-occlusive event. The presence of aPL (either LA or aCL) among patients with ischemic stroke does not predict either increased risk for subsequent vascular occlusive events over 2 years or a differential response to aspirin or warfarin therapy. Routine screening for aPL in patients with ischemic stroke does not appear warranted