ISSN 0300-9092 (Print)
ISSN 2412-5679 (Online)

Antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex antibodies in patients with healthy pregnancies

Ischuk V.V., Kerchelaeva S.B., Aleksandrova E.N., Novikov A.A., Khashukoeva I.Z.

1) N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia; 2) A.S. Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow, Russia; 3) H.M. Berbekov Kabardino-Balkarian State University, Nalchik, Russia

Antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex (aPS/PT) antibodies are an additional set of biomarkers that can be used to detect thromboembolic and obstetric complications, in addition to the traditional panel of phospholipid antibodies.
Objective: To determine aPS/PT levels in patients with healthy pregnancies.
Materials and methods: A study of serum aPS/PT IgG and IgM levels was conducted in 50 pregnant women with normal pregnancies during the first, second, and third trimesters of gestation.
Results: The median level of aPS/PT IgG in pregnant women during the first trimester was 3.77 
(2.67; 5.72) U/ml; in the second trimester, it was 3.48 (2.93; 5.39) U/ml; and in the third trimester, it was 3.72 (3.02; 4.79) U/ml. The median level of aPS/PT IgM in these patients was 3.6 (2.61; 5.09) U/ml in the first trimester; 4.1 (2.65; 5.4) U/ml in the second trimester; and 5.0 (3.41; 6.38) U/ml in the third trimester. Statistically significant changes were observed only in the third trimester (p=0.018).
Conclusion: The scientific community recognizes aPS/PT among non-criterial phospholipid antibodies as a promising diagnostic marker that may enhance the effectiveness of antiphospholipid syndrome diagnosis. Further studies involving patients with complicated pregnancies are needed to determine the significance of aPS/PT and confirm their potential use in the clinical practice of obstetricians and gynecologists.

Authors' contributions: Ischuk V.V. – patient examination, review of the relevant literature, drafting of the manuscript; Kerchelaeva S.B. – conception and design of the study, drafting and editing of the manuscript; Aleksandrova E.N. – collection and analysis of literature sources, drafting of the manuscript; Novikov A.A. – literature review, patient examination, drafting of the manuscript; Khashukoeva I.Z. – literature review, drafting of the manuscript. All of the authors contributed significantly to developing the concept, conducting the study, and drafting of the manuscript. They all read and approved the final version before submission.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: There was no funding for this study.
Ethical approval: The study was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Pirogov RNRMU, Ministry of Health of Russia (Ref. No: 236 of 22.01.2024).
Patient Сonsent for Publication: All patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Ischuk V.V., Kerchelaeva S.B., Aleksandrova E.N., Novikov A.A., Khashukoeva I.Z. Antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex antibodies in patients with healthy pregnancies.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (11): 70-76 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.292

Keywords

antibodies to the phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex
antiphospholipid antibodies
pregnancy
childbirth
antiphospholipid syndrome

References

  1. Bradacova P., Slavik L., Ulehlova J., Skoumalova A., Ullrychova J., Prochazkova J. et al. Current promising biomarkers and methods in the diagnostics of antiphospholipid synd rome: a review. Biomedicines. 2021; 9(2): 166. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9020166
  2. Atsumi T., Ieko M., Bertolaccini M.L., Ichikawa K., Tsutsumi A., Matsuura E. et al. Association of autoantibodies against the phosphatidylserine-prothrombin complex with manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome and with the presence of lupus anticoagulant. Arthritis Rheum. 2000; 43(9): 1982-93. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1529-0131(200009) 43:93.0.CO;2-2
  3. Александрова Е.Н., Новиков А.А., Лукина Г.В. Новые аспекты лабораторной диагностики антифосфолипидного синдрома. Лабораторная медицина. 2024; 15(1-2): 25-30. [Aleksandrova E.N., Novikov A.A., Lukina G.V. New aspects of laboratory diagnostics of antiphospholipid syndrome. Laboratory medicine. 2024; 15(1-2): 25-30 (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.58953/15621790_2024_15_1-2_25
  4. Alijotas-Reig J., Esteve-Valverde E., Anunciación-Llunell A., Marques-Soares J., Pardos-Gea J., Miró-Mur F. Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome: a comprehensive review. J. Clin. Med. 2022; 11(3): 675. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm11030675
  5. Liu L, Sun D. Pregnancy outcomes in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019; 98(20): e15733. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000015733
  6. D’Ippolito S., Barbaro G., Paciullo C., Tersigni C., Scambia G., Di Simone N. Antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy: new and old pathogenetic mechanisms. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023; 24(4): 3195. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043195
  7. Canti V., Del Rosso S., Tonello M., Lucianò R., Hoxha A., Coletto L.A. et al. Antiphosphatidylserine / prothrombin antibodies in antiphospholipid syndrome with intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. J. Rheumatol. 2018; 45(9): 1263-72. https://dx.doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.170751
  8. Moyle K.A., Branch D.W., Peterson L.K., Guerra M.M., Allshouse A.A., Benson A.E. et al. Association between novel antiphospholipid antibodies and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Obstet. Gynecol. 2025; 145(1): 55-64. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000005729
  9. Xiang J., Pan Y., Bao R., Cai Z. Correlation of anti-phosphatidylserine / prothrombin and anti-phosphatidylserine antibodies with pregnancy outcomes. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 2024; 92(1): e13890. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aji.13890
  10. Otomo K., Atsumi T., Amengual O., Fujieda Y., Kato M., Oku K. et al. Efficacy of the antiphospholipid score for the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome and its predictive value for thrombotic events. Arthritis Rheum. 2012; 64(2): 504-12. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/art.33340
  11. Sciascia S., Sanna G., Murru V., Roccatello D., Khamashta M.A., Bertolaccini M.L. GAPSS: the global anti-phospholipid syndrome score. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2013; 52(8): 1397-403. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kes388
  12. Менжинская И.В., Ванько Л.В., Кречетова Л.В., Тетруашвили Н.К., Сухих Г.Т. Спектр, иммунохимические свойства и диагностическое значение антифосфолипидных антител у женщин с ранним привычным выкидышем. Акушерство и гинекология. 2020; 8: 39-46. [Menzhinskaya I.V., Vanko L.V., Krechetova L.V., Tetruashvili N.K., Sukhov G.T. Spectrum, immunochemical properties and diagnostic value of antiphospholipid antibodies in women with early habitual miscarriage. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020; (8): 39-46 (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2020.8.39-46
  13. Решетняк Т.М., Чельдиева Ф.А., Черкасова М.В., Лила А.М., Насонов Е.Л. Антитела к комплексу фосфатидилсерин/протромбин у пациентов с антифосфолипидным синдромом. Терапевтический архив. 2022; 94(5): 628-34. [Reshetnyak T.M., Cheldieva F.A., Cherkasova M.V., Lila A.M., Nasonov E.L. Antibodies to the phosphatidylserine / prothrombin complex in the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome. Ter. Arkh. 2022; 94(5): 628-34 (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.26442/00403660.2022.05.201488
  14. Озолиня Л.А. Керчелаева С.Б., Лапина И.А., Макаров О.В. Венозные тромбоэмболические осложнения в акушерстве и гинекологии: учебник. 2-е изд., испр. и доп. М.: ГЭОТАР-Медиа; 2020. 288 с. [Ozolinja L.A. Kerchelaeva S.B., Lapina I.A., Makarov O.V. Venous thromboembolic complications in obstetrics and gynecology: textbook. 2nd ed., rev. and exp. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media; 2020. 288 p. (in Russian)].
  15. Elbagir S., Mohammed N.A., Kaihola H., Svenungsson E., Gunnarsson I., Manivel V.A. et al. Elevated IgA antiphospholipid antibodies in healthy pregnant women in Sudan but not Sweden, without corresponding increase in IgA anti-β2 glycoprotein I domain 1 antibodies. Lupus. 2020; 29(5): 463-73. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0961203320908949
  16. Ding Z., Pan H., Yang Z., Yang C., Shi H. Beyond the classics: the emerging value of anti-phosphatidylserine / prothrombin antibodies in antiphospholipid syndrome. Clin. Immunol. 2023; 256: 109804. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2023.109804
  17. Truglia S., Riitano G., Mancuso S., Recalchi S., Rapino L., Garufi C. et al. Antibody profiles in the mosaic of 'seronegative' APS syndrome. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2024; 218(3): 275-82. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cei/uxae079
  18. Saadalla A., Nandakumar V. Anti-phosphatidyl-serine / prothrombin (aPS / PT) antibodies are superior predictors of LAC presence and APS diagnoses: a single center study. Clin. Chim. Acta. 2024; 554: 117761. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2024.117761
  19. Cattini M.G., Bison E., Pontara E., Cheng C., Denas G., Pengo V. Tetra positive thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome: major contribution of anti-phosphatidyl-serine / prothrombin antibodies to lupus anticoagulant activity. J. Thromb. Haemost. 2020; 18(5): 1124-32. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jth.14765
  20. Knight J.S., Branch D.W., Ortel T.L. Antiphospholipid syndrome: advances in diagnosis, pathogenesis, and management. BMJ. 2023; 380: e069717. https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-069717
  21. Radin M., Foddai S.G., Cecchi I., Rubini E., Schreiber K., Roccatello D. et al. Antiphosphatidylserine / prothrombin antibodies: an update on their association with clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome. Thromb. Haemost. 2020; 120(4): 592-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1705115
  22. Žigon P., Perdan Pirkmajer K., Tomšič M., Kveder T., Božič B., Sodin Šemrl S. et al. Anti-phosphatidylserine / prothrombin antibodies are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. J. Immunol. Res. 2015; 2015: 975704. https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/975704

Received 17.10.2025

Accepted 11.11.2025

About the Authors

Valeriya V. Ischuk, PhD student at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Surgery, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University,
Ministry of Health of Russia, 117513, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1. lerchonokmark@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4328-2370
Svetlana B. Kerchelaeva, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor at the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Surgery, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117513, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1, ksb65@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4411-4478
Elena N. Aleksandrova, Dr. Med. Sci., Head of the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, A.S. Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Moscow Healthcare Department, 111123, Russia, Moscow, Novogireevskaya str., 1, aleksandrovaen2015@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4074-5907
Alexander A. Novikov, Dr. Bio. Sci., Leading Researcher at the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, A.S. Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Moscow Healthcare Department, 111123, Russia, Moscow, Novogireevskaya str., 1, irramnlab@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2738-2956
Ilona Z. Khashukoeva, student, H.M. Berbekov Kabardino-Balkarian State University, 360004, Russia, Nalchik, Chernyshevsky str., 173, ilona_1017@mail.ru,
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4378-910X
Corresponding author: Valeriya V. Ischuk, lerchonokmark@mail.ru

Similar Articles