OBJETIVO: Traçar um perfil clínico e laboratorial da síndrome do antifosfolípide (SAF), comparando a primária (SAFP) com aquela secundária (SAFS) ao lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES). MÉTODOS: Avaliamos 27 pacientes com SAFP e 32 com SAFS ao LES, acompanhados no Ambulatório de Colagenoses do HC/FMRP/ USP, quanto à ocorrência de trombose arterial, venosa, perda gestacional, livedo reticular, fenômeno de Raynaud, anemia hemolítica auto-imune, plaquetopenia, linfopenia, anticorpos anticardiolipina, anticoagulante lúpico, antinucleares, anti-Sm e VDRL. Os anticorpos anticardiolipina e anti-Sm foram pesquisados por ELISA, os antinucleares por imunofluorescência indireta e o anticoagulante lúpico pelo tempo de protrombina diluída, tempo de coagulação do caulin ou tempo do veneno de víbora de Russell diluído. Para análise estatística utilizamos o teste exato de Fisher bicaudal. RESULTADOS: Observamos aumento da freqüência de trombose arterial na SAFP (59,3% vs 25,0%, p=0,009) e de trombose venosa na SAFS (53,1% vs 33,3%, p>0,05), enquanto não houve diferenças entre as freqüências de perda gestacional (50,0% vs 56,7%), fenômeno de Raynaud (18,5% vs 18,8%), livedo reticular (18,5% vs12,5%), anticoagulante lúpico (33,3% vs 37,5%) e anticardiolipina IgG (79,2% vs 72,4%) e IgM (58,4% vs 65,5%). Ademais, observamos aumento significante de linfopenia (71,2% vs 7,4%, p<0,0001), de anticorpos antinucleares (100% vs 7,4%, p<0,0001) e de VDRLpositivo (47,1% vs 5,0%, p=0,005) na SAFS ao LES quando comparada com a SAFP. CONCLUSÕES: As manifestações clínicas e laboratoriais são semelhantes na SAFP e na SAFS ao LES, sendo a trombose arterial mais comum na SAFP, enquanto a presença de linfopenia, anticorpos antinucleares e VDRL positivo está associada com a SAFS ao LES.

OBJECTIVE: To study clinical and laboratory features of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) and that of secondary (SAPS) to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Twenty-seven PAPS and 32 SAPS patients were investigated in relation to the presence of arterial/venous thrombosis, fetal loss, reticular livedo, Raynaud phenomenon, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, antinuclear antibodies, anti-Sm and VDRL. Autoantibodies were investigated by ELISA (anticardiolipin and anti-Sm), indirect immunofluorescency (antinuclear antibodies) and by dilute prothrombin test, coagulation Kaolin test and dilute Russell viper venom test (lupus anticoagulant). RESULTS: Arterial thrombosis frequency was increased in PAPS (59.3% vs 25.0%, p=0.009) and venous thrombosis in SAPS (53.1% vs 33.3%; p>0.05), while there was no differences between frequencies of fetal loss (50.0% vs 56.7%), Raynaud phenomenon (18.5% vs 18.8%), reticular livedo (18.5% vs 12.5%), lupus anticoagulant (33.3% vs 37.5%), IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (79.2% vs 72,4%) and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies (58.4% vs 65.5%) in the two groups evaluated. Moreover, an increased frequency of lymphopenia (71.2% vs 7.4%; p<0.0001), antinuclear antibodies (100% vs 7.4%; p<0.0001) and positive VDRL (47.1% vs 5.0%, p=0.005) was observed in SAPS. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and laboratory features were similar on PAPS and SAPS, although arterial thrombosis was associated to PAPS, and lymphopenia, antinuclear antibodies and VDRL were associated to SAPS.

Resumo: Os autores relatam sua experiência como docentes da disciplina de Imunologia Clínica ministrada durante 10 anos no ciclo profissional do Curso Médico da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Fazem análise crítica da posição da Imunologia Clínica como especialidade médica, da sua interrelação com as demais disciplinas do currículo, das atividades didáticas e métodos de avaliação dos alunos e, finalmente, do resultado da avaliação do desempenho do curso feita pelos alunos nos últimos 4 anos. Concluem que a formação de um grupo de imunologistas clínicos no hospital universitário traz numerosas vantagens para a 'pesquisa, o ensino e a assistência, ressaltando, entre elas, a possibilidade de oferecer ao aluno o estudo sistemático das doenças imunológicas, num curso baseado nos princípios de diagnóstico e tratamento, de caráter eminentemente prático e continuamente avaliado.

Summary: The authors describe their experience in teaching Clinical Immunology for medical students in the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto during the past ten years. They critically analyse the place of Clinical Immunology as a medical speciality, its relationship to other courses of the medical curriculum, the activities and evaluation criteria of the course and, finally, the opinions of the students about the course, collected during the past four years. They conclude that the organization of a group of clinical immunologists in an University Hospital has several advantages for research, teaching and medical care of patients with immunological diseases. One of the most important consequences is the introduction of the systematic study of these diseases for the medical students during a course of Clinical Immunology. The course should be focused on the principles of diagnosis and treatment of immunological diseases, based mainly on practical activities and reavaluated continuosly by students and teachers, and modified when appropriate.