Association of Lupus Anticoagulant with Brain Atrophy in Gulf War Illness (GWI)

Abstract

Separate lines of research have documented brain atrophy and evidence of autoimmune mechanisms in Gulf War Illness (GWI), including the presence of lupus anticoagulant (LAC), in veterans with GWI. Here we evaluated the possible association of LAC and brain volume in veterans with GWI. The presence of LAC was determined using Silica Clotting Time and dilute Russell’s Viper Venom Time assays. MRI data was acquired using a Philips 3T MR scanner from which total gray matter, total cortical gray matter, total subcortical gray matter, and total cerebral white matter were derived. The results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of brain volume in all regions tested in GWI veterans with positive LAC, as compared to those without LAC. These findings add to the literature implicating autoimmune mechanisms in GWI and point to the presence of prothrombotic antiphospholipid antibodies as contributing to brain atrophy in GWI.

At the Root of 3 “Long” Diseases: Persistent Antigens Inflicting Chronic Damage on the Brain and Other Organs in Gulf War Illness, Long-COVID-19, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

“…163 Furthermore, LAC-positivity is associated with significant brain atrophy in GWI veterans. 164 Remarkably, the presence of specific Class II HLA has been shown to spare brain atrophy, 165 a characteristic of GWI, 37 and prevent inflammation and cortical thinning. 40 Finally, evidence indicates that brain function in veterans with GWI is indistinguishable from that of classic autoimmune disorders.…”