title: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective study.
abstract: To investigate a possible relationship between the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), complement, disease activity and disease severity, 111 clinically well-documented RA patients were studied prospectively for ANCA, RF, ANA, C-reactive protein (CRP), total haemolytic complement (CH50) and complement split product C3d. Disease activity and severity were also assessed clinically, as well as anamnestically, using the Hannover Activity of Daily Living Questionnaire, the functional Steinbrocker grades, and numeric and verbal rating scales. At a serum dilution of 1:50, 20% of the 111 sera showed predominantly an atypical perinuclear staining pattern. There was no correlation between ANCA positivity and serological markers, disease activity and disease severity. Regarding previous therapies with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, ANCA+ patients took sulphasalazine significantly more often than ANCA- patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Röther
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schochat
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Peter
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D015933:Complement C3d / Q000032:analysis; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D015933:Complement C3d; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor