[p-ANCA prevalence in ulcerative colitis patients and first-degree relatives].

Unlabelled: Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) are more common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) than in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), but its prevalence depends on the population being studied and the method employed for its detection.

Aim: To determinate the prevalence of p-ANCA in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and their first degree in NE Romania area.

Material And Method: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of p-ANCA as detected by ELISA, in the serum of 44 patients with UC and 22 first degree relatives. We also correlated the presence of this antibody with disease activity and extent, extraintestinal complications and therapy. 26 healthy individuals comprised the control group.

Results: p-ANCA was detected in 11% of the patients with UC. Of the 5 p-ANCA positive UC patients, 1 case were found to have proctosigmoiditis, 1 cases had left-sided colitis and 3 cases had pancolitis. There was no correlation between the presence of this antibody and any of the studied clinical variables (extend disease, complication, family disease, surgery). No person of the first degree and control group presented positive test.

Conclusions: The prevalence of p-ANCA in NE Romania patients with UC (11%) is lower than that in the Western population. The negativity of p-ANCA in all first degree relatives of NE Romania UC patients should be further elucidated.