[Antibodies against neutrophil cytoplasm and their role in pathology and diagnosis of systemic vasculitis].

Experimental data and clinical observations suggesting the role of antibodies against neutrophil cytoplasm in pathology and diagnosis of systemic vasculitides have been presented. There are no data indicating that ANCA specificity allow to distinguish diverse forms of necrotizing vasculitis. However, detection of ANCA has a diagnostic interest since it is a key to the diagnosis of vasculitis in complex clinical settings where diagnosis is not obvious. ANCA may be useful in monitoring the course of the disease and effects of treatment.