Anti - neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies ( ANCA ) in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Objective: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), known as a useful diagnostic marker in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), are specific for granule proteins of granulocytes and monocytes and induce distinct fluorescence patterns. To evaluate the significance of ANCA in chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IHD), the presence of ANCA in chronic IBD was studied using indirect immunofluorescent test (IIF), Methods: Between March, 1994 and September 1995, 51 patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease were subjected in this study. We had analysed the correlation between duration, disease activity, location by colonoscopy and radiologic examinations, steroid treatment. Results: 1) Among 34 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), ANCA was demonstrated in 23 patients (67.6%). Among 19 patients with other chronic IBD (4 Crohn's disease, 6 Behcet's colitis, 7 intestinal tuberculosis and 2 radiation colitis) 2 patients (10.5%) had ANCA. The positivity of ANCA in patients with UC was significantly higher than in patients with other chronic IBD. 2) In patients with UC, c-ANCA was positive in 2 (5.9%) patients and p-ANCA was positive in 21 (61.8%) patients. In patients with other chronic IBD, ANCA was positive in one patient with Behcet's colitis or one patient with intestinal tuberculosis but negative in all patients with Crohn's disease or radiation colitis. 3) The mean duration of disease in ANCA positive patients was 42.4±39.4 months and the mean duration of disease in ANCA negative patients was 44.9±36.8 months, but there was no significant difference. 4) The number of patients in clinically mild, moderate and severe group were 23 (37.6%), 6 (83.2%) and 5 (14.7%) respectively. Among these groups the number of ANCA positive patients were 15 (65.2%), 5 (83.2%) and 3 (60%) respectively, but there was no significant difference. 5) The number of patients with proctitis, left side colitis and pancolitis were 9 (26.5%), 14 (41.2%) and 11 (32.4%) respectively, Among these groups the number of ANCA positive patients were 4 (44.4%), 10 (71.4%) and 9 (81.8%) respectively, but there was no significant difference. 6) Among 13 patients with steroid treatment 9 patients (69.2%) were ANCA positive. Among 21 patients without steroid treatment 16 patients (76.2%) were ANCA positive, but there was no significant difference. Conclusion: Although there was no correlation between ANCA and duration, disease activity, location or steroid treatment in UC patients, ANCA could be a diagnostic marker of UC in chronic IBD patients.ope