target antigens for perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in iranian patients with ulcerative colitis

background: patients with ulcerative colitis (uc) carry autoantibodies such as perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-anca). objective: the aim of the present study was to evaluate the target antigens for p-anca in iranian patients with uc. methods: p-anca target antigens including elastase, lactoferrin, cathepsin g, myeloproxidase, lysozyme, and bactericidal permeability increasing protein (bpi) were determined in 113 patients with uc using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). results: 59.2% of the patients were positive for at least one antigen and p-anca directed against lactoferrin, elastase, lysozyme, cathepsin g, bpi, and myeloproxidase in 31.5%, 25.9%, 8.3%, 7.4%, 5.6%, and 0% of the patients, respectively. conclusion: the highest prevalence of p-anca was observed against lactoferrin and elastase. also, myeloproxidase was not an antigen for p-anca among our patients.