Beta-2 glycoprotein 1 antibodies

The doctor may recommend a ß2 GPI antibodies test in the following scenarios:

• Repeated incidents of clotting in arteries and veins. Clotting in small blood vessels - usually referred to as small vessel thrombosis.
• The birth of a premature baby in more than one pregnancy, which could be due to: 
  • Placental insufficiency (placenta is unable to support the baby) or
  • Eclampsia or preeclampsia (high blood pressure, which may be accompanied with convulsions)
  • Repeated incidents of miscarriage occurring before the tenth week of pregnancy despite regular chromosomal features in parents of the baby.

Other than the above-mentioned conditions, a ß2 GPI antibodies test is usually performed along with the lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody tests to diagnose any autoimmune disorder. The symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases include

• Chest pain
• Persistent headaches
• Complications with pregnancy
• Shortness of breath
• Changes in speech and cognition
• Seizures
• Memory loss
• Stroke

Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicine or supplements. This is because certain medicines and drugs affect the results of this test.

A blood sample is required for this test. A lab technician or nurse will use a sterilised needle to withdraw the required amount of blood from your arm. It might cause slight pain, but once the needle is removed, the pain will subside. 

After the test, you may experience slight bruising - it will fade away within a few days. If the bruising persists, please inform your doctor.

Normal results: 

ß2 GPI antibody levels below 20 units per millilitre (U/mL) of the blood are considered to be normal. Normal results signify that you may not have an autoimmune disorder. However, further parameters and antibodies need to be checked to confirm the absence of any autoimmune disease. 

If you don’t have ß2 GPI antibodies but show positive results for other phospholipid antibodies, you may have antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Your doctor may check your symptoms to confirm APS

Abnormal results:

Higher than normal ß2 GPI antibodies levels are reported as abnormal. It may be due to antiphospholipid syndrome.

Abnormal results may also be associated with other autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus. 

Additionally, these antibodies are found to be temporarily increased in the blood in certain acute infections. In such a case, the results of a repeat test would be negative. Some forms of cancer and the presence of HIV infection can also be associated with a positive ß2 GPI antibodies test. 

Your doctor may repeat the test if your results are only weakly positive or negative, ie the values in the test result are not exceptionally high but above the normal range.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.