Early ADAMTS13 testing associates with pre-eclampsia occurrence in antiphospholipid syndrome.

Abstract Introduction Women with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (oAPS) still develop placental diseases, mainly pre-eclampsia (PEcl), which diagnosis is associated with reduced ADAMTS13 levels. Testing ADAMTS13 in newly pregnant oAPS may provide evidence for risk stratification. Materials and methods We retrospectively investigated the prognostic value of ADAMTS13 activity, antigen and antibodies on stored plasma samples obtained prior to beginning low-molecular weight heparin-low dose aspirin treatment in 513 oAPS women. Results Some women had evidences of early positive ADAMTS13 antibodies and low ADAMTS13 activity:antigen ratio, suggestive of ADAMTS13 dysfunction. Women with a subsequent PEcl had higher ADAMTS13 antibodies (p  Conclusions The characterization of ADAMTS13 in newly pregnant women with oAPS depicts the risk of PEcl occurrence. ADAMTS13 might help identify pregnant women with oAPS not requiring escalating treatment strategies to prevent PEcl.