BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Lupus nephritis is a classic immune complex glomerulonephritis. In contrast, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are associated with necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis, in the absence of significant immune deposits. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies are detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 20% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. We rep...

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Infection with this bacterium is known to induce the development of autoantibodies of which a few are also known to be diagnostic markers for some other diseases. Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA's) are among those autoantibodies used in clinical setting for diagnosing systemic vasculitic sy...

The Henoch-Schönlein purpura is the vasculitis associated with deposits of immunoglobulin A in small vessels. Its association with cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies is possible, but rare. This vasculitis is uncommon in adults and the main clinic manifestations are purpuric lesions in lower limbs with gastrointestinal symptoms and renal involvement. The present work describes a r...

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis remains a diagnosis of exclusion in patients who present with pulmonary alveolar haemorrhage. Systemic vasculitis developed in a patient with an eight year history of idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by a rising titre of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies directed against myeloperoxidase. Treatment with immunosuppressive age...

Antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) are good serological markers for patients with mainly vasculitic conditions. Two main types of ANCAs have been detected, the first termed cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (cANCA) are mainly associated with patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, the other termed perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA) are mainly...

1. Csernok E, Lamprecht P, Gross WL. Diagnostic significance of ANCA in vasculitis. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol 2006;2:174–5. 2. Radice A, Sinico RA. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Autoimmunity 2005;38:93– 103. 3. Savige J, Davies D, Falk RJ, Jennette JC, Wiik A. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and associated diseases: a review of the clinical and laboratory features. Kidney I...

Antiglomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibodies are more often accompanied by myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) than by proteinase 3 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA). Both disease processes can affect the kidneys and/or the lungs. Patients with dual positive disease may have an atypical presentation which may delay diagnosis and treatment. Here ...