OBJECTIVE Chronic infections tend to induce the production of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Infective endocarditis (IE) has been reported to exhibit positive ANCA tests and to mimic ANCA-associated vasculitis, which may lead to a misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The aim of this study was to clarify whether there is any difference in the clinical features between ANCA-posi...

To cite: Ganesh Y, Yadala V, Vemula B, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2015-212189 DESCRIPTION A 29-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of pain and numbness in his right arm and hypertension for 2 months, which was refractory to a combination of antihypertensive drugs. Physical examination revealed multiple pulsatile swellings in ...

Recent findings have indicated a close relationship between myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-positive hypertrophic pachymeningitis and the limited form of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). In Japan, MPO-ANCA-positive hypertrophic pachymeningitis predominantly occurs in elderly individuals. We herein describe the cases of two patients with MPO-ANCA-positive hy...

Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic vasculitic disease characterized by necrotizing granulomas and vasculitis of small vessels.1,2 Upper airway tract involvement is frequent over the course of the disease.1,3 Cytoplasmatic pattern antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA) are highly specific for WG in the active phase.1,3 Proteinase 3-ANCA (PR3-ANCA) positivity is usually associate...

and dysmorphic red blood cell casts. A quantitative serum pregnancy test was positive. Bronchoalveolar lavage retrieved blood-tinged fluid, numerous red blood cells and hemosiderin-laden macrophages but few neutrophils. Microbiology studies for bacteria, mycobacteria and fungi in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were negative. Perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA) with spec...

OBJECTIVES To assess the clinical value of several serological markers in Lithuanian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with control patients with rheumatic disease and age matched healthy controls. METHODS Serum samples from 96 patients with RA of approximately 8 years' duration, 90 rheumatic disease controls, and 37 healthy subjects were tested. Antikeratin antibody (AKA), ant...

A 39 year old woman with untreated coeliac disease presented with some of its complications and bilateral papillitis. She was found to have antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in high titres. Following institution of gluten-free diet the complications resolved. The papillitis, however, persisted and needed a course of prednisolone to resolve, and a fall in the ANCA titres was noted. We...

BACKGROUND The demonstration of proteinase 3 specific antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (PR3-ANCA), and the estimation of antibody values are useful in the diagnosis and management of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). However, external quality assessment programmes suggest that PR3-ANCA binding varies in different assays. AIM To demonstrate variations in PR3-ANCA binding in dif...

AIM To test the clinical significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in evaluation of adult Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) patients presenting mainly with abdominal symptoms. METHODS Twenty-eight consecutive HSP patients who presented predominantly with abdominal symptoms were enrolled in this study. Control subjects included 27 age- and sex-matched patients with peptic ulcer d...