Microscopic polyangiitis presenting as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: is anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody testing indicated?

We report a 55-year old woman with microscopic polyangiitis who presented with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 1 year later developed hematuria and proteinuria. She had a high serum level of perinuclear anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies. Renal angiogram was normal. The diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis was confirmed by renal biopsy, which showed pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. The patient received immunosuppressive therapy and improved markedly. Consideration of small vessel vasculitis is important in the differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.