ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODIES (ANCA) IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

To investigate a possible relationship between the presence of antineu trophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuc lear antibodies (ANA), complement, disease activity and disease severi ty, 111 clinically well-documented RA patients were studied prospectiv ely for ANCA, RF, ANA, C-reactive protein (CRP), total haemolytic comp lement (CH50) and complement split product C3d. Disease activity and s everity were also assessed clinically, as well as anamnestically, usin g the Hannover Activity of Daily Living Questionnaire, the functional Steinbrocker grades, and numeric and verbal rating scales. At a serum dilution of 1:50, 20% of the 111 sera showed predominantly an atypical perinuclear staining pattern. There was no correlation between ANCA p ositivity and serological markers, disease activity and disease severi ty. Regarding previous therapies with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, ANCA(+) patients took sulphasalazine significantly more often t han ANCA(-) patients.