antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody


antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

an autoantibody to cytoplasmic constituents of monocytes and neutrophils found in patients with vasculitis.

antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

ANCA Immunology Any autoantibody directed against certain components of granulocytes, myeloid-specific lysosomal enzymes; ANCAs are most commonly found in systemic vasculitides–eg, necrotizing vasculitis, active generalized Wegener's granulomatosis–WG, 84-100% are positive, polyarteritis nodosa, inflammatory conditions of the lung and kidney–eg, crescentic glomerulonephritis, unexplained renal failure, Churg-Strauss syndrome, HIV infection, IBD, drug-induced lupus, SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, and others

an·ti·neu·tro·phil cy·to·plas·mic an·ti·bod·y

(ANCA) (an'tē-nū'trō-fil sī'tō-plaz'mik an'ti-bod-ē) An autoantibody to cytoplasmic constituents of monocytes and neutrophils found in patients with vasculitis.

antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

Abbreviation: ANCA
An autoantibody found in the blood of patients with certain forms of vasculitis (such as Churg-Strauss syndrome, microscopic polyangiitis, Wegener granulomatosis) esp. when it affects small blood vessels.See also: antibody