Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in the classification of vasculitis.
Two important types of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have been identified: anti-proteinase 3 and anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies. In the appropriate clinical setting, the presence of either is virtually diagnostic of the subset of vasculitis that includes Wegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis (microscopic polyarteritis), the Churg-Strauss syndrome, idiopathic pauci-immune necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis, and related and overlapping forms of these vasculitidies. The finding of ANCA throughout this group identifies these syndromes as belonging to a single category or spectrum of disease.
Niles
J L
JL
Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D053146:Myeloblastin; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology; D013577:Syndrome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D009195:Peroxidase; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053146:Myeloblastin