title: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies in the immunodiagnosis of systemic necrotizing vasculitis.
abstract: If testing of ethanol-fixed neutrophils remains the most commonly used method to screen for ANCA. C-ANCA is highly sensitive and specific for Wegener's granulomatosis if strict criteria in defining this IF pattern are followed. P-ANCA is not specific for MPO-ANCA, when used as a screening test. Because of the increasing recognition of atypical cytoplasmic staining patterns and the lack of specificity of nuclear staining of neutrophils for MPO-ANCA, confirmatory testing by ELISA is advisable in all cases of atypical neutrophil cytoplasmic staining and in all cases of neutrophil nuclear or perinuclear staining.
authors.affiliation: Thomas-Davis Medical Centers, Phoenix, Arizona 85014.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies