Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in ulcerative colitis: anti-cathepsin G and a novel antibody correlate with a refractory type |
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Authors: | J SOBAJIMA S OZAKI T OKAZAKI F OSAKADA S SUMITA K MORI and K NAKAO |
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Institution: | Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan |
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Abstract: | We analysed the clinical significance of ANCA in patients with ulcerative colitis. On either an indirect immunofluorescence assay or an ELISA with fixed neutrophils, 71% (25/35) of the patients were positive for ANCA. However, only half of them reacted with either cathepsin G or lactoferrin. Western blot assays revealed positive bands in 40% (10/25) of the antibody-positive patients. The sizes of the bands detected were ≈58, 47, 44, 40, and 28 kD. No significant correlation was found between the ANCA positivity and various variables, i.e. disease activity, extent of lesion, or treatment of the disease. The anti-cathepsin G and 28-kD positivity, however, significantly correlated with a refractory type of ulcerative colitis. |
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Keywords: | anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies ulcerative colitis cathepsin G 28-kD antigen |
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