Antineutrophil and pancreatic autoantibodies in first-degree relatives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND
Perinuclear antineutrophil antibodies (P-ANCA) are found in ulcerative colitis, and autoantibodies against exocrine pancreas (PAB) in Crohn's disease. Their potential role as genetic or pathophysiologic factors is unclear.


METHODS
In 61 patients with ulcerative colitis, 76 patients with Crohn's disease, 101 first-degree relatives of patients with ulcerative colitis, 105 first-degree relatives of Crohn's disease patients, and 56 healthy unrelated controls autoantibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
Forty-six per cent of patients with ulcerative colitis (28 of 61) and 38% of patients with Crohn's disease (29 of 76) were P-ANCA- and PAB-positive, respectively. In relatives of patients with ulcerative colitis P-ANCA were found in 3% (3 of 101), and in relatives of Crohn's disease patients PAB were detected in 4% (4 of 105), which is not significantly different from the occurrence in the healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of P-ANCA and PAB does not suggest a role as genetic markers for inflammatory bowel disease.
Folwaczny
C
C
Medical Clinic, Klinikum Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany.
Noehl
N
N
Endres
S P
SP
Loeschke
K
K
Fricke
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005819:Genetic Markers