Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) Test

What is an antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) test

For antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in a sample of your blood. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria. But sometimes antibodies attack the healthy cells of your own tissues and organs by mistake. This is called autoimmune disease

ANCAs attack healthy white blood cells called neutrophils. This can lead to a disorder called autoimmune vasculitis. There are several types of autoimmune vasculitis, but they all cause inflammation and swelling in your blood vessels. When this happens, blood vessels can narrow or close off. This can cause different types of serious health problems depending on which blood vessels in body are affected.

There are two main kinds of ANCA called pANCA and cANCA. Each type targets a specific protein inside white blood cells. An ANCA test can show whether you have one or both types of antibodies. This information helps your healthcare provider diagnose which type of autoimmune vasculitis you have so you can get the right treatment.

Testing for pANCA can also help diagnose certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a group of chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune diseases that cause swelling and irritation in your stomach and intestines.

Other names: ANCA antibodies, cANCA, pANCA, cytoplasmic neutrophil antibodies, serum, anti-cytoplasmic autoantibodies

What is it used for?

ANCA testing is used to help:

Find out if you have autoimmune vasculitis and which type.

Monitor treatment for autoimmune vasculitis.

Diagnose whether you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Both conditions are types of inflammatory bowel disease. ANCAs are more commonly found in ulcerative colitis.

Types of autoimmune vasculitis include:

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). This condition used to be called Wegener's disease. It most often affects blood vessels in the lungs and/or sinuses. It may also affect the nose, windpipe, or kidneys.

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). This disorder can affect several parts of the body, including the lungs, kidneys, nerves, skin, and joints.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). This condition used to be called Churg-Strauss syndrome. It usually affects blood vessels in the lungs and/or sinuses. It may also affect the stomach and intestines, skin, heart, and nervous system. It often causes asthma and a high level of white blood cells called eosinophils.

Inputs Courtesy: ENT Specialist Doctor with 41 years of experience. He can be reached only by WhatsApp messages at 9243301223.