Skip to main content

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and multiple comparison of aPL-positive patients in four clusters from cluster analysis

From: Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies based on cluster analysis: an 8-year cohort study

Variables, n (%)

All (N = 383)

Cluster 1 (N = 138)

Cluster 2 (N = 112)

Cluster 3 (N = 83)

Cluster 4 (N = 50)

P-value

P-value for multiple comparison

Cluster 1 vs Cluster 2

Cluster 1 vs Cluster 3

Cluster 1 vs Cluster 4

Cluster 2 vs Cluster 3

Cluster 2 vs Cluster 4

Cluster 3 vs Cluster 4

Demographics

 Male sex

114 (29.8)

8 (5.8)

87 (77.7)

1 (1.2)

18 (36.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.186

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

 Age (years), mean ± SD

37.7 ± 12.1

36.4 ± 11.4

39.7 ± 14.8

37.6 ± 9.8

36.9 ± 10.7

0.608

0.213

0.377

0.813

0.735

0.478

0.674

 Age of onset a (years), mean ± SD

31.2 ± 12.0

29.1 ± 11.4

33.2 ± 14.6

32.7 ± 9.7

30.4 ± 10.0

0.008**

0.039

0.000*

0.223

0.471

0.536

0.179

Duration from onset to diagnosis (years), mean ± SD

2.5 ± 4.6

2.5 ± 4.7

2.8 ± 4.9

1.7 ± 2.8

3.4 ± 5.9

0.009**

0.011

0.566

0.052

0.008*

0.802

0.026

Asymptomatic aPLs carriers

45 (11.7)

21 (15.2)

9 (8.0)

9 (10.8)

6 (12.0)

0.368

0.082

0.358

0.578

0.503

0.61

0.838

Associated autoimmune diseases

 SLE

93 (24.3)

61 (44.2)

6 (5.4)

7 (8.4)

19 (38.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.447

0.394

0.000*

 Other autoimmune diseasesb

12 (3.1)

3 (2.2)

3 (2.7)

3 (3.6)

3 (6.0)

0.591

0.591

1.000

0.833

0.396

1.000

0.559

Clinical criteria

 Arterial thrombosis

127 (33.2)

59 (42.8)

51 (45.5)

3 (3.6)

14 (28.0)

0.000**

0.659

0.000*

0.067

0.000*

0.035

0.000*

  Cerebral infarction

70 (18.3)

38 (27.5)

26 (23.2)

3 (3.6)

3 (6.0)

0.000**

0.436

0.000*

0.002*

0.000*

0.008*

0.833

  Coronary heart disease

18 (4.7)

8 (5.8)

9 (8.0)

0 (0.0)

1.000 (2.0)

0.045**

0.484

0.063

0.49

0.021

0.262

0.376

  Lower limb arterial thrombosis

23 (6.0)

9 (6.5)

11 (9.8)

0 (0.0)

3 (6.0)

0.041**

0.339

0.043

1.000

0.009

0.619

0.098

  Celiac artery thrombosis c

20 (5.2)

3 (2.2)

12 (10.7)

1 (1.2)

4 (8.0)

0.005**

0.005*

0.998

0.153

0.008*

0.803

0.127

  Retinal or ophthalmic artery thrombosis

9 (2.3)

6 (4.3)

2 (1.8)

0 (0.0)

1 (2.0)

0.205

0.433

0.134

0.753

0.509

1.000

0.376

 Venous thrombosis

164 (42.8)

46 (33.3)

82 (73.2)

14 (16.9)

22 (44.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.002*

0.769

0.000*

0.002*

0.003*

  Lower limb deep venous thrombosis

110 (28.7)

33 (23.9)

58 (51.8)

6 (7.2)

13 (26.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.009

0.401

0.000*

0.032

0.002*

  Pulmonary embolism

82 (21.4)

23 (16.7)

44 (39.3)

4 (4.8)

11 (22.0)

0.000**

0.723

0.198

0.761

0.085

1.000

0.098

  CTEPH

14 (3.7)

5 (3.6)

6 (5.4)

0 (0.0)

3 (6.0)

0.183

0.069

1.000

0.103

0.171

0.914

0.134

  Celiac venous thrombosis d

20 (5.2)

4 (2.9)

9 (8.0)

2 (2.4)

5 (10.0)

0.074

0.213

0.52

0.176

0.108

0.76

0.053

  Intracranial venous sinus thrombosis

19 (5.0)

5 (3.6)

8 (7.1)

1 (1.2)

5 (10.0)

0.077

0.473

0.654

1.000

1.000

0.553

0.527

  Retinal venous thrombosis

6 (1.6)

1 (0.7)

3 (2.7)

2 (2.4)

0 (0.0)

0.491

0.000*

0.002*

0.769

0.000*

0.002*

0.003*

 CAPS

7 (1.8)

2 (1.4)

5 (4.5)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0.118

0.293

0.529

1.000

0.136

0.305

1.000

 Obstetric morbidity e

142 (64.0)

60 (60.0)

4 (23.5)

63 (81.8)

15 (53.6)

0.000**

0.005*

0.002*

0.542

0.000*

0.048

0.003*

  Early miscarriages

77 (34.5)

36 (36.0)

1 (5.9)

34 (43.6)

6 (21.4)

0.011**

0.014

0.304

0.147

0.003*

0.332

0.038

  Fetal death > 10th week

64 (28.7)

24 (24.0)

1 (5.9)

29 (37.2)

10 (35.7)

0.032**

0.172

0.056

0.215

0.012

0.057

0.89

  Premature birth f

34 (15.2)

19 (19.0)

4 (23.5)

8 (10.3)

3 (10.7)

0.268

0.917

0.107

0.457

0.276

0.468

1

 Non-criteria manifestations

184 (48.0)

95 (68.8)

54 (48.2)

12 (14.5)

23 (46.0)

0.000**

0.001*

0.000*

0.004*

0.000*

0.794

0.000*

  Thrombocytopenia

152 (39.7)

80 (58.0)

40 (35.7)

11 (13.3)

21 (42.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.000*

0.052

0.000*

0.446

0.000*

  Hemolytic anemia

48 (12.5)

29 (21.0)

10 (8.9)

2 (2.4)

7 (14.0)

0.000**

0.009

0.000*

0.28

0.061

0.331

0.026

  Heart valve disease

22 (5.7)

13 (9.4)

5 (4.5)

2 (2.4)

2 (4.0)

0.008**

0.132

0.045

0.364

0.709

1.000

1.000

  APL-associated nephropathy

17 (4.4)

5 (3.6)

11 (9.8)

0 (0.0)

1 (2.0)

0.006**

0.046

0.198

0.928

0.009

0.152

0.376

  Livedo reticularis

7 (1.8)

7 (5.1)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0.005**

0.042

0.091

0.235

1.000

1.000

1.000

  Skin ulcer

2 (0.5)

1 (0.7)

1 (0.9)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

1.000

1.000

1.000

1.000

1.000

1.000

1.000

  Non-stroke CNS manifestation

24 (6.3)

15 (10.9)

7 (6.2)

1 (1.2)

1 (2.0)

0.017**

0.2

0.007*

0.103

0.164

0.447

1.000

    Cognitive impairment

10 (2.6)

7 (5.1)

3 (2.7)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0.077

0.525

0.091

0.235

0.361

0.553

1.000

    Seizure

17 (4.4)

10 (7.2)

5 (4.5)

1 (1.2)

1 (2.0)

0.15

0.357

0.093

0.316

0.377

0.751

1.000

    Chorea

5 (1.3)

4 (2.9)

1 (0.9)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0.394

0.501

0.296

0.519

1.000

1.000

1.000

Cardiovascular risk factors

 Body mass index (kg/m2), mean ± SD

23.7 ± 4.0

23.6 ± 4.3

24.7 ± 3.7

22.6 ± 3.9

23.6 ± 3.4

0.000**

0.006*

0.128

0.831

0.000*

0.056

0.151

 Smoking (past or current)

69 (18.0)

3 (2.2)

51 (45.5)

4 (4.8)

11 (22.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.49

0.000*

0.000*

0.004*

0.002*

 Hypertension

63 (16.4)

18 (13.0)

40 (35.7)

1 (1.2)

4 (8.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.002*

0.342

0.000*

0.000*

0.127

 Coronary artery disease

14 (3.7)

5 (3.6)

9 (8.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0.011**

0.131

0.198

0.395

0.021

0.091

1.000

 Diabetes

10 (2.6)

6 (4.3)

4 (3.6)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0.132

1.000

0.134

0.303

0.219

0.421

1.000

 Dyslipidemia

211 (55.1)

73 (52.9)

65 (58.0)

44 (53.0)

29 (58.0)

0.807

0.417

0.987

0.535

0.485

0.997

0.576

  CHO > 5.70 mmol/L

85 (22.2)

20 (14.5)

23 (20.5)

30 (36.1)

12 (24.0)

0.002**

0.208

0.000*

0.125

0.015

0.621

0.144

  TG > 1.70 mmol/L

182 (47.5)

66 (47.8)

50 (44.6)

39 (47.0)

27 (54.0)

0.746

0.616

0.904

0.454

0.745

0.271

0.433

  LDL > 3.37 mmol/L

83 (21.7)

16 (11.6)

31 (27.7)

22 (26.5)

14 (28.0)

0.005**

0.001*

0.004*

0.007*

0.856

0.966

0.851

 Hcy > 15 μmol/L

89 (23.2)

22 (15.9)

47 (42.0)

7 (8.4)

13 (26.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.109

0.117

0.000*

0.052

0.006*

Antibody profile

 aCL, IgG/IgM

186 (48.6)

85 (61.6)

67 (59.8)

31 (37.3)

3 (6.0)

0.000**

0.775

0.000*

0.000*

0.002*

0.000*

0.000*

 aβ2-GPI, IgG/IgM

266 (69.5)

109 (79.0)

88 (78.6)

68 (81.9)

1 (2.0)

0.000**

0.937

0.596

0.000*

0.562

0.000*

0.000*

 LA

283 (73.9)

131 (94.9)

99 (88.4)

4 (4.8)

49 (98.0)

0.000**

0.058

0.000*

0.608

0.000*

0.088

0.000*

 ANA

151 (39.4)

82 (59.4)

29 (25.9)

17 (20.5)

23 (46.0)

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.102

0.379

0.011

0.002*

 Anti-dsDNA

65 (17.0)

39 (28.3)

8 (7.1)

5 (6.0)

13 (26.0)

0.000**

0.000*

0.000*

0.759

0.757

0.001*

0.001*

 aCL, IgG/IgM + aβ2-GPI, IgG/IgM

160 (41.8)

80 (58.0)

57 (50.9)

23 (27.7)

0 (0.0)

0.000**

0.263

0.000*

0.000*

0.001*

0.000*

0.000*

 LA+ aCL, IgG/IgM

148 (38.6)

83 (60.1)

60 (53.6)

2 (2.4)

3 (6.0)

0.000**

0.296

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.559

 LA+ aβ2-GPI, IgG/IgM

187 (48.8)

104 (75.4)

78 (69.6)

4 (4.8)

1 (2.0)

0.000**

0.312

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.721

 Multiple aPL positive

229 (59.8)

109 (79.0)

91 (81.2)

25 (30.1)

4 (8.0)

0.000**

0.656

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.003*

 Triple aPL positive

133 (34.7)

79 (57.2)

52 (46.4)

2 (2.4)

0 (0.0)

0.000**

0.089

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.000*

0.527

Other laboratory tests

 ESR elevation g

106 (27.7)

45 (32.6)

29 (25.9)

15 (18.1)

17 (34.0)

0.083

0.247

0.019

0.858

0.196

0.29

0.037

 CRP > 8 mg/L

53 (13.8)

22 (15.9)

18 (16.1)

4 (4.8)

9 (18.0)

0.061

0.978

0.013

0.737

0.014

0.761

0.029

 C3 < 0.730 g/L

60 (15.7)

32 (23.2)

12 (10.7)

10 (12.0)

6 (12.0)

0.025**

0.01

0.041

0.091

0.771

0.81

0.993

 C4 < 0.100 g/L

60 (15.7)

33 (23.9)

12 (10.7)

8 (9.6)

7 (14.0)

0.009**

0.007*

0.008*

0.142

0.807

0.548

0.441

  1. **P < 0.05: Kruskal–Wallis test
  2. *P < 0.0083: Pearson chi-square test (or chi-square test with the Yates continuity, or Fisher exact test if appropriate) for categorical data, and the Mann-Whitney U test for qualitative data after Bonferroni correction
  3. SD standard deviation, CTEPH chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, CNS central nervous system, CHO total cholesterol, TG triglycerides, LDL low-density lipoprotein, Hcy homocysteine, ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP C-reactive protein
  4. aAge of onset was defined as the age at first thrombotic or obstetric episode for confirmed APS patients, or at the first aPLs positivity for asymptomatic aPLs carriers
  5. bOther autoimmune disease included primary Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic vasculitis, and psoriasis
  6. cCeliac artery thrombosis included thrombosis involving abdominal aorta, mesenteric artery, splenic artery, renal artery, and adrenal artery
  7. dCeliac venous thrombosis included thrombosis involving portal vein, hepatic vein, splenic vein, mesenteric vein, inferior vena cava, and renal vein
  8. eCalculated in female patients
  9. fPremature birth due to preeclampsia, eclampsia, or placental insufficiency before 34th week of gestation
  10. gESR elevation was defined as ESR > 15 mm/h in males or > 20 mm/h in females