Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCAs) directed to proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA) or myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) are strongly associated with the ANCA-associated vasculitides--Wegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, and Churg-Strauss syndrome. Clinical observations, including the efficacy of B-cell depletion via rituximab treatment, support--but do not prove--a pathogenic role fo...

PURPOSE We report the case of a 59-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B and C infection presenting with acute kidney injury and enterococcus faecalis-infective endocarditis (IE). An elevated proteinase-3 (PR3)-ANCA and pauci-immune glomerulonephritis (GN) on renal biopsy were discovered, corresponding to ANCA-mediated GN. We conducted a literature review to assess the role of ANCA in IE and tr...

OBJECTIVE To study the sera from selected groups of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive patients by means of the indirect immunofluorescence test (ANCA-IIF) with different fixatives, in order to better discriminate among the various ANCAs (Ag-specificity and disease associations), especially those for which the antigen targets have not yet been identified. METHODS Eighty patho...

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are the serological hallmark of small vessel vasculitis, so called ANCA-associated vasculitis. The international consensus requires testing by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on human ethanol-fixed neutrophils (ethN) as screening followed by confirmation with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). This study evaluates the combination of cell...

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is strongly associated with autoantibodies against myeloperoxidase (MPO) and proteinase 3 (PR3). No clear consensus has been reached on the pathogenicity of these autoantibodies. Animal models for MPO-ANCA, in vitro data suggesting pathogenicity of ANCA, and one case of a neonate showing symptoms of vasculitis after tra...

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Their role in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) are, however, poorly recognized. We sought a genetic association between laboratory markers for the disease, i.e. anti-proteinase 3 antibodies (anti-PR3), anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies, anti-cyclic ci...

Hematological malignancies are most common in individuals over 60 years who are least responsive to current treatments. Immunotherapy strategies could improve outcome in patients otherwise refractory to standard treatment. Most leukemia associated antigens (LAAs) that could be potential targets of immunotherapy regimens are overexpressed non-mutated self-antigens and as such are likely to induc...

SIR, Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG): the spectrum of CNS manifestations includes cerebrovascular events, seizures and cranial nerve abnormalities [1, 2]. Meningitis is exceedingly rare, and its diagnosis often challenging [1–3]. A 57-yr-old man was admitted to hospital because of untreatable headache, photophobia, neck stiffness and paranasal s...