Anti-endothelial cell antibodies: a need for standardization

Twenty years have passed since the original description of the anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA). It is widely acknowledged that the presence of circulating autoantibodies against endothelial cells surface antigens, found in a number of patients with connective tissue disease and vasculitis, is one of the driving mechanisms for the observed vascular injury and might be an important factor in initiating the pathogenesis of vascular abnormalities. AECA data regarding the prevalence, technical problems, presence with other autoantibodies, antigen distribution and immune endothelial cell injury associated with these autoantibodies, requires standardization for determining the precise pathophysiologic and immunologic role of anti-endothelial cell antibodies.