ANCA antibodies in extrinsic allergic alveolitis

Of 29 patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis, 8 responded to an anti-neurrophil cytoplasmic IgG antibody (ANCA) detected in the serum. The majority of 5 sera were DNA-ANCA, followed by 2 p-ANCA with myeloperoxidase (MPO) specificity and 1 a-ANCA with BPI specificity. To our knowledge, this is the first case-control study of ANCA antibodies in extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis). No symptoms of the known ANCA-associated diseases, especially EGPA (Churg-Strauss syndrome) and GPA (Wegener's disease) were noted in these patients.