[Autoantibodies against neutrophil cytoplasm and their significance in the classification of systemic vasculitis]

In this article new informations about systemic vasculitis were reviewed. Evaluation of ANCA and their antigen specificity is of a great help in classification of systemic vasculitis. Among idiopathic systemic vasculitis anti-serine proteinase antibodies are found in Wegener granuloma, anti-MPO antibodies in Churg-Strauss syndrome and in polyarteritis nodosa. Antibodies against other components of PMNL granules still remain unknown. The main purpose of this review was to underline incidence of systemic vasculitis and the meaning of ANCA in the diagnosis and classification of these diseases.