Occurrence of autoantibodies to human leucocyte elastase in Wegener's granulomatosis and other inflammatory disorders
Article Abstract:
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) to the enzyme human leukocyte elastase (HLE) appear to be found only rarely in patients with vasculitis. ANCAs are a type of autoantibody, that is they react against the body's own normal tissues. Vasculitic diseases are characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels. Blood samples from 1,102 patients with suspected vasculitic diseases were analyzed for ANCAs. Only six samples were positive for antibodies to HLE. Four of the patients who were anti-HLE positive were later diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis, one was diagnosed with Cogan's syndrome and one was diagnosed with systemic vasculitis. None of the blood samples from 218 healthy patients contained anti-HLE antibodies. Samples from another 315 patients with vasculitis and related disorders were analyzed, and none were positive for anti-HLE antibodies.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole) for the prevention of relapses of Wegener's granulomatosis
Article Abstract:
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole) appears to prolong remission rates in Wegener's granulomatosis. Wegener's granulomatosis is an autoimmune disease that causes lung and blood vessel inflammation. Forty-one people with Wegener's granulomatosis took co-trimoxazole twice a day for 2 years and 40 took a placebo. Those who took co-trimoxazole had less than half the risk of relapse as those who took placebo. They also had fewer respiratory infections. However, 20% had to stop taking the drug because of side effects.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Monocyte activation in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis
Article Abstract:
The activity of disease in Wegener's granulomatosis is related to the degree of activation of monocytes, and they are involved with a role in the pathology of the disease. As the disease progresses, it causes formation of small tumors or nodules in the air passages and necrotizing vasculitis. This process is connected to the activation of monocytes, and monocyte activity can be analyzed by measuring plasma concentrations of neopterin and interleukin 6.
Publication Name: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4967
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: The utility of IgA antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in early diagnosis of vertically transmitted infection
- Abstracts: Diet in relation to socioeconomic status in patients with coronary heart disease. Concordance of diet with the recommended cholesterol lowering diet in patients with coronary heart disease
- Abstracts: Strategies to promote breast-feeding among adolescent mothers. Health risk behaviors among pregnant adolescents with older partners
- Abstracts: Micronutrient muscle: a bodybuilder's primer on vitamins and minerals. Mellow out with kava: this herbal remedy could help soothe your worried mind
- Abstracts: Views of managed care: a survey of students, residents, faculty, and deans at medical schools in the United States