ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODIES (ANCA) - A SEROMARKER FOR WEGENERS GRANULOMATOSIS

Wegener's granulomatosis can be a difficult diagnosis to establish. It is not uncommon to require repeated biopsies over many months for histologic confirmation. A recently developed seromarker - anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody - ANCA (synonymous with anticytoplasmic autoantibody - ACPA) adds a new and valuable tool for diagnosis. The literature shows this to be a highly specific and sensitive test for Wegener's granulomatosis.