Inflammatory Bowel Disease Evaluation PAN-ANCA & ASCA

Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease are typically divided by clinical, endoscopic and histopathological criteria into either Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) categories. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA), are frequently (50-90%) found in patients with ulcerative colitis, and less frequently (15-30%) in patients with Crohn’s disease. Cytoplasm. Pattern (C-ANCA) autoantibodies have been detected in ulcerative colitis, but may represent co­ occurrence of systemic vasculitis disease. P-ANCA is being explored as a marker for disease severity.

Because as many as 12% of ulcerative colitis patients develop colon cancer, it is essential that the pathogenesis and possible early markers of this disease be explored more fully. Anti-saccharomyes cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) are highly specific for Crohn’s disease (100% specificity if both lgG and IgA are positive), and can be used in conjunction with ANCA testing to help differentiate between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. A positive atypical ANCA pattern in conjunction with a negative ASCA result is strongly suggestive of ulcerative colitis.

CLINICAL UTILITY:

P-ANCA is useful in differentiating Inflammatory Bowel Disease from other diarrhoeal disease.
A positive P-ANCA pattern along with a negative ASCA result strongly suggests ulcerative colitis.
In ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, P-ANCA is generally positive in patients with a more aggressive disease courses and are less responsive to treatment.
Alfa Laboratory also tests for ANA as these antibodies can generate a P-ANCA- like pattern.

How to Order:

Alfa laboratories are performing the PAN-ANCA Profile & the ASCA Test routinely if requested and will be reported within few days.

PAN-ANCA
ANCA and pattern
ANA and pattern
Myeloperoxidase Autoantibodies
Proteinase-III Autoantibodie
ASCA

References:

Hoffenberg EJ, Fidanza S, Sayaia A. Serologic testing for inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr 1999; 134:441-52.

Gigase P, De Clerck LS, Van Cotthem KA, et al. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease with special attention for IgA-class antibodies. Dig Dis Sci 1997:42:2171-4.