Anticardiolipin antibodies & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What are anticardiolipin antibodies?

The Anti-Cardiolipin antibody test is used to identify the cause of the following conditions:

• blood clots in the blood vessels for no reason
• multiple miscarriages
• long-lasting blood clots

If the test results show the presence of cardiolipin antibodies in your blood, the test will be performed again 6 weeks later to determine whether the antibodies have recently appeared or have been around for a long time.

This test is usually done if your doctor suspects that you have lupus.

When should I take anticardiolipin antibodies?

This test is usually done when there are abnormal blood clots and symptoms of blocked arteries. Symptoms are more specific depending on where the clot is.

Blood clots in the legs:

• pain and swelling in the leg, usually one of the legs
• pale on the feet

Blood clots in the lungs:

• sudden shortness of breath
• bleeding cough
• chest pain
• the heart beats fast

In addition, tests were also carried out on women who had miscarried several times to find the cause of the miscarriage.

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before taking anticardiolipin antibodies?

The following factors can affect the test results:

• people with or who have had syphilis may accept inaccurate results
• antibodies may appear temporarily in people with AIDS, inflammation, cancer or autoimmune diseases
• test results may not be accurate in patients taking medications such as chlorpromazine, hydralazine, penicillin, phenytoin, procainamide and quinidine

It is important that you understand the warnings above before running this test. If you have any questions, consult your doctor for further information and instructions.

Process

What should I do before taking anticardiolipin antibodies?

The doctor will explain the test process to you. This test is a blood test. You don't need to make special preparations. Fasting is also not required before the test.

It is recommended that you wear clothes with short sleeves to make the process of drawing blood easier.

How do the anti-cardiolipin antibodies work?

The medical personnel in charge of drawing your blood will take the following steps:

• wrap an elastic belt around your upper arm to stop blood flow. This makes the blood vessel under the bundle enlarge making it easier to insert the needle into the vessel
• clean the area to be injected with alcohol
• inject a needle into a vein. More than one needle may be required.
• Insert the tube into the syringe to fill it with blood
• untie the knot from your arm when enough blood is drawn
• sticking gauze or cotton on the injection site, after the injection is complete
• apply pressure to the area and then put a bandage on

What should I do after taking anticardiolipin antibodies?

Your doctor or nurse will take a sample of your blood. While you generally won't feel any pain, some people can feel pain when a new needle is injected. However, when the needle is in the blood vessel, the pain is usually not felt. Pain depends on the skills of the nurse, the condition of the blood vessels and your sensitivity to pain.

After the blood draw, it is recommended that you wrap it with a bandage and apply light pressure to your vein to stop the bleeding. You can do your normal activities after the test.

If you have any questions about this test process, please consult with your doctor to understand more.

Explanation of the Test Results

What do my test results mean?

Normal index: negative results.

• <23 GPL (phospholipid unit)
• <11 MPL (phospholipid unit).

An abnormally increased concentration:

• • thrombosis
  • thrombocytopenia
  • recurrent miscarriage
  • syphilis
  • acute infection
  • systemic lupus erythematosus

• old age

The results of the anti-Cardiolipin antibodies test may vary depending on the laboratory. Consult your doctor if you have questions about test results.