Key result
Anticardiolipin antibodies were absent in healthy elderly (0%) but significantly elevated in frail elderly (18.7%), particularly those with stroke (31.6%) or multi-infarct dementia (44%).
Why the study?
Is the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies elevated in specific elderly subpopulations such as those with stroke or dementia compared to healthy elderly?
Observational (n=218)
Is the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies elevated in specific elderly subpopulations such as those with stroke or dementia compared to healthy elderly?
Absolute Event Rate: 18.7% vs 0%
Anticardiolipin antibodies are not nonspecifically elevated due to aging, but are significantly associated with stroke and multi-infarct dementia in the elderly.
Anticardiolipin antibodies associate with stroke and multi-infarct dementia in frail elderly; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Previous studies have reported that the prevalence of certain autoantibodies is nonspecifically elevated in elderly subjects due to immunoscenescence. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) in two elderly subpopulations: Two hundred and eighteen elderly were included in this study; 63 healthy elderly had a prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies of zero; 155 unselected frail elderly were prospectively evaluated and the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in this group was found to be significantly increased at 18.7%. Subdivision of this group into those elderly clinically assessed as suffering from dementia showed a prevalence of 26.5% and stroke a prevalence of 31.6%. Both were found to be statistically significantly increased when compared with both the healthy and frail elderly population. Subdivision of the dementia patients into those suffering from multi-infarct type dementia (MID) and those suffering from Alzheimer's type dementia (AD) showed an association of 44% and 20%, respectively. The association of MID with aCL was significant. This study demonstrates therefore that anticardiolipin antibodies are not nonspecifically elevated in elderly subjects but are significantly elevated in elderly subjects with strokes and multiple infarct dementia.
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Juby et al. (1995) conducted an observational in Frailty, dementia, and stroke in the elderly (n=218). Frailty, stroke, and dementia vs. Healthy elderly was evaluated on Prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies. Anticardiolipin antibodies were absent in healthy elderly (0%) but significantly elevated in frail elderly (18.7%), particularly those with stroke (31.6%) or multi-infarct dementia (44%).
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