Abstract
One hundred and six patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) were studied for the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). In 53 patients serial ANCA determinations were obtained. C-ANCA positivity was a sensitive (88%) marker of active WG. However, changes in serial titers were temporally concordant with a change in disease status in only 55% of patients. Furthermore, a rise in c-ANCA titer preceded clinical exacerbation of disease in only 24% of patients who had been in remission or had low grade, smoldering disease. A rise in c-ANCA titer alone should not be considered a priori evidence of impending relapse, and does not justify modification of immunosuppressive therapy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cohen Tervaert, J.W.C., Huitema, M.G., Hene, R.J., Sluiter, W.J., 1990, Prevention of relapses in Wegener’s granulomatosis by treatment based on anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody titer, Lancet 336: 709–711.
Cohen Tervaert, J.W., Fokko, J., van der Woude, M.D., Fauci, A.S., Ambrus, J.L., Velosa, J., Keane, W.F., Meijer, S., van der Jiessen, M., Hauw, The, T., van der Hem, G.K., Kallenberg, C.G.M., 1989, Association between active Wegener’s granulomatosis and anticytoplasmic antibodies, Arch Intern Med. 149: 2461–2465.
Fauci, A.S., Haynes, B.F., Katz, P., Wolff, S.M., 1983, Wegener’s granulomatosis: prospective clinical and therapeutic experience in 85 patients, Ann Intern Med 98: 76–85.
Hoffman, G.S., Kerr, G.S., Leavitt, R.Y., Hallahan, C.W., Lebovics, R.S., Travis, W.D., Rottem, M., Fauci, A.S., 1992, Wegener’s granulomatosis: an analysis of 158 patients, Ann Intern Med. 116: 488–498.
Specks, U., Wheatley, C.L., McDonald, T.J., Rohrbach, M.S., DeRemee, R.A., 1989, Anticytoplasmic autoantibodies in the diagnosis and followup of Wegener’s granulomatosis, Mayo Clin Proc. 64: 28–36.
van der Woude, F.J., Rasmussen, N., Lobatto, S., Wiik, A., Permin, H., van Es, L.A., van der Giessen, M., van der Hem, G.K., The, T.H., 1985, Autoantibodies against neutrophils and monocytes: tool for diagnosis and marker of disease activity in Wegener’s granulomatosis, Lancet 1: 425–429.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kerr, G.S., Fleisher, T.A., Hallahan, C.W., Leavitt, R.Y., Fauci, A.S., Hoffman, G.S. (1993). Limited Prognostic Value of Changes in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Titers in Patients with Wegener’s Granulomatosis. In: Gross, W.L. (eds) ANCA-Associated Vasculitides. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 336. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9182-2_71
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9182-2_71
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9184-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9182-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive