ANTINEUTROPHIL AND PANCREATIC AUTOANTIBODIES IN FIRST-DEGREE RELATIVES OF PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

Background: Perinuclear antineutrophil antibodies (P-ANCA) are found i n ulcerative colitis, and autoantibodies against exocrine pancreas (PA B) in Crohn's disease. Their potential role as genetic or pathophysiol ogic factors is unclear. Methods: In 61 patients with ulcerative colit is, 76 patients with Crohn's disease, 101 first-degree relatives of pa tients with ulcerative colitis, 105 first-degree relatives of Crohn's disease patients, and 56 healthy unrelated controls autoantibodies wer e detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Results: Forty-six per cent of patients with ulcerative colitis (28 of 61) and 38% of patients wi th Crohn's disease (29 of 76) were P-ANCA- and PAB-positive, respectiv ely. In relatives of patients with ulcerative colitis P-ANCA were foun d in 3% (3 of 101), and in relatives of Crohn's disease patients PAB w ere detected in 4% (4 of 105), which is not significantly different fr om the occurrence in the healthy controls. Conclusions: The frequency of P-ANCA and PAB does not suggest a role as genetic markers for infla mmatory bowel disease.