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AND THE
ANSWER IS . . .
Discussion
1. Serum antibodies against neutrophil cytoplasm components with a
diffuse immunofluorescent staining pattern on ethanol-fixed smears of
neutrophils (c-ANCA) are typically found in Wegener's Granulomatosis,
particularly those cases with active extra-respiratory as well as
respiratory involvement (1). The c-ANCA are thought to be directed
predominantly against Proteinase 3, a tryptic type of serine proteinase.
However, the p-ANCA, not the c-ANCA, pattern is sometimes seen in
Wegener's. Also, the c-ANCA is occasionally seen in some types of
primary vasculitis (2).
2. Antibodies against a E2 sub-unit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase
complex are responsible for anti-mitochondrial antibody binding, found
most commonly in IBC (3). Levels of these antibodies are increased in
only a small minority of autoimmune hepatitis and not in biliary
cirrhosis secondary to extra hepatic mechanical obstruction.
3. Rheumatoid factor levels, the immunologic test most commonly
identified with rheumatoid arthritis (AR) are present in about 70% of RA
cases but are also present in a wide variety of other disorders (4). The
anti-CCP antibodies are present in about 50-60% of RA, but are
relatively specific for RA(>90%) (5).
4. Auto-immune hepatitis, Type 1 is characterized by anti-smooth muscle
antibodies (>90), anti-nuclear antibodies and sometimes lupus-like extra
hepatic manifestations (joints, serositis, rash) (6). The anti-smooth
muscle antibody is present in only a small minority of chronic viral
hepatitis cases.
5. The CREST (calinosis, Raynaud's, esophageal dysmobility,
sclerodactyly, telangiectasia) limited presentation of scleroderma is
characterized by the presence of anti-kinetochore antibody which gives
an anti-centromere antibody staining pattern in any dividing target
cells in the substrate of an anti-nuclear antibody test (7). Such
antibodies are found much less frequently in the systemic sclerosis
presentation of scleroderma, characterized by more extensive skin
involvement, pulmonary and sometimes cardiac and/or renal involvement.
References
1. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48:2299-309
2. Am J Clin Pathol 1999 ;111:363-9
3. Immunol Rev 2000 ;174:226-37
4. Scand J Rheumatol Suppl 1988;75:300-8
5. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2003 ;42:677-80.
6. Eur J Intern Med 2002 ;13:293-303
7. Arthritis Res Ther. 2003;5:80-93

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