Testing and reporting antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in treated vasculitis and non-vasculitic disease

Journal of Immunological Methods
Judy SavigeWendy Pollock

Abstract

Testing for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) is performed to diagnose or exclude small vessel vasculitis, and, in treated patients, to monitor disease activity. However testing is also undertaken to assist with the diagnosis of other autoimmune diseases and some infections. Most laboratories use the same assays for all sera regardless of the testing indications. The International Consensus Statement on ANCA Testing and Reporting recommended screening for ANCA by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and confirming IIF-positive sera in antigen-specific ELISAs for both proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). These guidelines have been reviewed after many refinements of the assays, and the development of new testing methodologies. However the advances have focused largely on improving the diagnostic accuracy in new-onset vasculitis, and not on more accurately monitoring disease activity, nor increasing the diagnostic sensitivity for non-vasculitic conditions. The recently-revised guidelines for ANCA testing indicate that where new onset vasculitis is suspected, sera should be examined for both PR3- and MPO-ANCA using any highly sensitive and specific assay, rather than IIF. They further state that where sera are nega...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 11, 2020·BMJ Case Reports·Daryl R ChengRomy Cho

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