ANCA (ANTI NEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODIES) P & C

This test looks for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in a sample of your blood. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria. But sometimes antibodies attack the healthy cells of your own tissues and organs by mistake. This is called autoimmune disease.

Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) Test

What is an antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) test?

This test looks for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in a sample of your blood. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria. But sometimes antibodies attack the healthy cells of your own tissues and organs by mistake. This is called autoimmune disease.

ANCAs attack healthy white blood cells called neutrophils. This can lead to a disorder called autoimmune vasculitis. There are several types of autoimmune vasculitis, but they all cause inflammation and swelling in your blood vessels. When this happens, your blood vessels can narrow or close off. This can cause different types of serious health problems depending on which blood vessels in your body are affected.

There are two main kinds of ANCA called pANCA and cANCA. Each type targets a specific protein inside white blood cells. An ANCA test can show whether you have one or both types of antibodies. This information helps your health care provider diagnose which type of autoimmune vasculitis you have so you can get the right treatment.

Testing for pANCA can also help diagnose certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a group of chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune diseases that cause swelling and irritation in your stomach and intestines.

Other names: ANCA antibodies, cANCA, pANCA, cytoplasmic neutrophil antibodies, serum, anticytoplasmic autoantibodies

What is it used for?

ANCA testing is used to help:

1. Find out if you have autoimmune vasculitis and which type.
2. Monitor treatment for autoimmune vasculitis.
3. Diagnose whether you have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Both conditions are types of inflammatory bowel disease. ANCAs are more commonly found in ulcerative colitis.

Types of autoimmune vasculitis include:

1. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). This condition used to be called Wegener's disease. It most often affects blood vessels in the lungs and/or sinuses. It may also affect the nose, windpipe, or kidneys.
2. Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). This disorder can affect several parts of the body, including the lungs, kidneys, nerves, skin, and joints.
3. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). This condition used to be called Churg Strauss syndrome. It usually affects blood vessels in the lungs and/or sinuses. It may also affect the stomach and intestines, skin, heart, and nervous system. It often causes asthma and a high level of white blood cells called eosinophils.

Why do I need an ANCA test?

If you have symptoms of autoimmune vasculitis, you may need an ANCA test. Symptoms may develop slowly or quickly. They may be mild or severe.

General symptoms may include:

1. Fatigue
2. Fever
3. General aches and pains
4. Loss of appetite
5. Weight loss

Other symptoms depend on which type of vasculitis you have and which parts of your body are affected. Symptoms in some commonly affected areas include:

1. Eyes, ears, and noseChanges in vision or loss of vision
2. Red and/or itching, burning eyes
3. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
4. Hearing loss
5. Dizziness
6. Sinus infections
7. SkinRashes or hives
8. Itching
9. Bruises
10. LungsCoughing up blood
11. Shortness of breath
12. KidneysBlood in the urine (pee)
13. Foamy urine, which is caused by protein in the urine
14. Nervous systemNumbness, tingling, and/or weakness in different parts of the body
15. Shooting pains in the arms and legs
16. Stomach and intestinesOpen sores in the mouth
17. Diarrhea
18. Vomiting blood

You may also need an ANCA test if you have symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which may include:

1. Abdominal (belly) pain
2. Diarrhea
3. Weight loss
4. Blood in stool (poop)
5. Fever