Association of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with resistance to treatment of left-sided ulcerative colitis: results of a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with perinuclear staining in patients with treatment-resistant left-sided ulcerative colitis.


METHODS
We studied four groups: treatment-resistant left-sided ulcerative colitis, treatment-responsive left-sided ulcerative colitis, ulcerative colitis historical controls, and healthy control subjects. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and positive results were confirmed by demonstration of a perinuclear staining pattern by indirect immunofluorescence assay.


RESULTS
The frequency of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies was significantly greater in treatment-resistant left-sided ulcerative colitis (90%) than in treatment-responsive left-sided ulcerative colitis (62%) (P = 0.03) or in ulcerative colitis historical controls (60%).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased frequency of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in treatment-resistant left-sided ulcerative colitis suggests a possible association between these antibodies and relative resistance to medical therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Sandborn
W J
WJ
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Landers
C J
CJ
Tremaine
W J
WJ
Targan
S R
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers