Wegener's granulomatosis. Electron microscopic and immunofluorescent studies.

Chronic bronchial suppuration and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive systemic vasculitis.

Two patients with long-standing chronic bronchial suppuration developed antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyarteritis respectively. There is published evidence of an association between previous suppurative respiratory disease and Wegener's granulomatosis. We believe that our cases provide further evidence that chronic lung infection ...

Variations in performance characteristics of commercial enzyme immunoassay kits for detection of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies: what is the optimal cut off?

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown considerable variation in diagnostic performance of enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for measuring antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) specific for proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). OBJECTIVE To analyse the performance characteristics of different commercially available direct ANCA ELISA kits. METHODS ELISA kits for dete...

Antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens in Wegener's granulomatosis and other conditions.

The use of serum antibodies to neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA) as a diagnostic marker for Wegener's granulomatosis and other forms of vasculitis has been assessed. Although ANCA have been described by several groups the precise antigenic targets are unknown, and detection of ANCA still relies on an indirect immunofluorescence assay technique. Several different patterns of fluorescence ha...

Advances in therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis.

The anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides include granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) and microscopic polyangiitis. The introduction of therapy with cytotoxic agents such as cyclophosphamide transformed these diseases from fatal diagnoses to chronic conditions characterized by cycles of relapse and remission. Modern treatment strategies have focuse...

Differences in the incidence of microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's). Is there a latitudinal gradient?