NEGATIVE ANCA IN WEGENERS GRANULOMATOSIS

Wegener's granulomatosis is a systemic vasculitis characterized by nec rotizing granulomata and without treatment is associated with a poor p rognosis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have proved to be a useful serological marker allowing for early diagnosis and treatm ent of this condition. We report two cases of patients who were ANCA-n egative on presentation despite clinical suspicion of Wegener's granul omatosis. In both cases the patients developed a positive ANCA titre a s the disease progressed.