Clinical Significance:
Cardiolipin is a structurally unique anionic phospholipid of mitochondrial membranes. It is synthesized from phosphatidylglycerol and cytidinediphosphate-diacylglycerol. It consists of two diacylglycerol groups covalently linked via phosphodiester bridges to a central glycerol backbone. Cardiolipin plays an important role in energy metabolism, mainly by providing stability for the individual enzymes and enzyme complexes involved in energy production. Moreover, cardiolipin is involved in different stages of the mitochondrial apoptotic process and in mitochondrial membrane dynamics. Thus, cardiolipin is important for the mitochondrial function, thereby any disturbance of the cardiolipin profile may result in mitochondrial dysfunction. Anti-cardiolipin antibodies are acquired autoantibodies produced against cardiolipins and are found in the immunoglobulin classes IgG, IgM and/or IgA. IgG antibodies will be found in progressive stages of manifested autoimmune disorders. Quantitative measurements of anti-cardiolipin IgG, is an important parameter with high specificity in therapy-monitoring of SLE-secondary forms.
