Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in ulcerative colitis after restorative proctocolectomy do not correlate with the presence of pouchitis.
BACKGROUND
Although perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) expression is strongly associated with ulcerative colitis, its relationship with the occurrence of pouchitis after restorative proctocolectomy is uncertain.


METHODS
Serum p-ANCA was assayed using both indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 49 patients, of whom 25 had, and 24 had not, developed pouchitis. Control sera were obtained from 15 healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
By means of indirect immunofluorescence, p-ANCA was detected in 45.8% of patients without and in 48% with pouchitis (NS). Twenty-three (46.9%) of the 49 colitis patients were p-ANCA-positive, compared with none of the 15 controls (P < 0.01). By means of ELISA, p-ANCA positivity was present in 50% of patients without and in 68% with pouchitis (NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas p-ANCA was associated with ulcerative colitis as compared with normal individuals, it was not associated with pouchitis. Thus it is unlikely to be a suitable pre-operative marker to identify those patients who will develop pouchitis.
Yasuda
N
N
Dept. of Surgery, St Mark's Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, UK.
Thomas
P
P
Ellis
H
H
Herbst
F
F
Nicholls
J
J
Ciclitira
P
P
D000328:Adult; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019449:Pouchitis / Q000276:immunology*; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000009:adverse effects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic