ANCA stands for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. They are mainly IgG. They are subdivided into 2 groups based on the patterns produced when they are stained:
1. cANCA
- cytoplasmic, anti PR3
- found in Wegeners (90%), mircroscopic polyangiitis (40%)
- some correlation between level and disease activity
2. pANCA
- perinuclear, anti MPO
- found in churg strauss (60%), crescentic glomerulonephritis (80%), microscopic polyangiitis (60%), Wegeners (60%)
- may also be seen in IBD, RA, SLE, sjogrens, autoimmune hepatitis
Thats it for today, no war at present but I'll try and post one later
