Anti-cardiolipin antibodies

  Anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are antibodies often directed against cardiolipin and found in several diseases including syphilis^[1], antiphospholipid syndrome, livedoid vasculitis, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, Behçet's syndrome^[2], idiopathic spontaneous abortion,^[3] and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).^[4] They are a form of anti-mitochondrial antibody. In SLE, The anti-DNA antibodies and anti-cardiolipin act independently.^[5] In rheumatoid arthritis^[6] w/systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)^[7] these antibodies may tie two conditions together.