The diagnostic utility of c-ANCA in Wegener’s granulomatosis

ABSTRACT

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with a cytoplasmic staining pattern (c-ANCA) have been found to have a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for Wegener’s granulomatosis. Nevertheless, despite the attraction of using this autoantibody as a diagnostic test, in almost all instances it should not be used in place of a biopsy to diagnose Wegener’s granulomatosis.