ISSN 2997-1036
International Journal of Hematology | Vol. 5, No. 2, February 2014 | pp. 9–16
DOI: 10.46882/2014/IJH/000050
Short Communication
Title: Screening for lupus anticoagulant using a simplified textrin time assay protocol in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss
Names of Authors: B. C. Akpan¹, D. E. Usman²
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Haematology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; ²Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract: Lupus anticoagulant is an established cause of immune-mediated obstetric complications, but standard multi-step confirmation assays can be complex for routine diagnostic laboratories. This study evaluated the screening performance of a simplified textrin time assay, which uses standard Taipan snake venom, compared to the reference diluted Russell’s viper venom time in 80 women with a history of unexplained recurrent early pregnancy loss. Solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays also quantified anticardiolipin antibodies. Lupus anticoagulant positivity was identified in 16.2% (13 of 80) of the patient cohort using the diluted Russell’s viper venom time reference technique. The simplified textrin time protocol demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.3% (12 of 13 positive cases) and a specificity of 89.5% when evaluated against the reference method. The textrin time assay resisted interference from therapeutic low-molecular-weight heparin due to the specific direct prothrombin-activating mechanism of the venom. Utilizing the simplified snake venom clot protocol provides a cost-effective and reliable alternative for identifying lupus anticoagulant risk profiles in maternal health settings.
Keywords: Recurrent pregnancy loss, lupus anticoagulant, textrin time, antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombophilia
Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 15, 2013; Revised: December 22, 2013; Accepted: January 11, 2014; Published: February 18, 2014