title: Familial clusters of ANCA small-vessel vasculitis.
abstract: Small-vessel vasculitides associated with the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in the serum are characterized by inflammation and necrosis of small vessels. A pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis typically occurs when there is renal damage. Pathogenesis of these diseases remains unclear although infectious, genetic and environmental factors have been involved. Few familial clusters of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies' small-vessel vasculitis are described in the literature. We report two families with first-degree relatives affected with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies' small-vessel vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho , Gaia.
authors.forename: Ana Marta
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine , Centro Hospitalar do Porto-Hospital Sto António , Porto , Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho , Gaia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho , Gaia.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology , Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho , Gaia.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seabra
keywords: antineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies; familial vasculitis; systemic vasculitis