Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Antiphospholipid Syndrome among pregnant women in Southwestern Nigeria

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to utilize triple auto-antibodies to determine the prevalence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) among pregnant women in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Methods: The longitudinal descriptive study involved a hundred and sixty pregnant women with pregnancy complications and control. Participants were tested for APS by assaying Antiβ2, ACA and LAC at first contact and for persistent positivity after twelve weeks using the ELISA method with blood specimens. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Results:  The prevalence of persistent positivity to anti-phospholipid antibodies in this study is 28.8% and 2.5% among the subjects and control respectively. Persistent positivity to ACA was observed in 26.3%, β2-GP1 in 21.1% and LAC in 16.8% of participants in the study group and 2.5%, 1.3% and 2.5% in the control group. Persistent positivity to anti-phospholipid antibodies was associated with hypertension and recurrent miscarriage (≥3).

Conclusion: Hypertension and recurrent miscarriage are associated with APS among pregnant women in this study area. Triple auto-antibodies are suggested as routine pregnancy tests among pregnant women with previous history of these complications.