title: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and disease activity during long-term follow-up of 70 patients with systemic vasculitis.
abstract: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have been identified as a diagnostic marker in primary systemic vasculitis, and immunofluorescence assays identify two patterns of binding: cytoplasmic (C-ANCA and perinuclear (P-ANCA). We have examined retrospectively the use of such assays in long-term monitoring of disease activity, in order to determine the relationship between presence of ANCA and relapse, and to assess their suitability as a guide to therapy. Seventy patients were studied over a period of 50 months, using clinical and laboratory criteria for the diagnosis of relapse and the internationally standardised immunofluorescence assay for detection of ANCA. In 19 patients C- or P-ANCA were detectable throughout the study period; six of these (with C-ANCA) relapsed. In 18 patients ANCA were undetectable during long-term follow-up; none of these patients relapsed. In 33 patients C- or P-ANCA were intermittently present; nine of these relapsed and all had C-ANCA detectable at the time of relapse. In six of the nine cases, relapse was accompanied or closely preceded by reappearance of C-ANCA. We conclude that continuing presence and reappearance of ANCA may identify patients who are at risk of relapse and who are most likely to benefit from long-term immunosuppressive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaskin
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pusey
mesh_terms: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000276:immunology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G