On the problem of differential diagnosis in the detection of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies

Abstract

Vasculitides associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are a group of systemic autoimmune diseases characterized by necrotizing lesions of the walls of predominantly small vessels and the presence of ANCA against proteinase 3 or myeloperoxidase. However, an increase in ANCA levels can also be observed in other diseases, including autoimmune, malignant and infectious diseases, which complicates the interpretation of clinical and laboratory data and requires a differential diagnosis.