Bronchiectasis with myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

A 56-year-old woman was hospitalized for recurrent hemoptysis. She had been suffering from bronchiectasis for 4 years. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was pers istently detected in her sputum, Serum was positive for Myeloperoxidase ant ineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) and bactericidal/permeability-i ncreasing protein antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (BPI-ANCA), She under went lung resection. Histopathologically, the resected lung showed bronchie ctasis with pulmonary fibrosis but did not show vasculitis. Her serum becam e negative for the ANCAs after the operation. To date, she has no recurrenc e of hemoptysis. We discuss this case of bronchiectasis with MPO-ANCA and B PI-ANCA and suggest a possible role for ANCAs in chronic airway infection.