Which antibodies are linked to vasculitis?

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are specifically associated with various forms of vasculitis, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis), microscopic polyangiitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome). These autoantibodies target proteins in the cytoplasm of neutrophils, leading to inflammation and damage in blood vessels, which is characteristic of vasculitis.

The presence of ANCAs can help distinguish between types of vasculitis and guide clinical diagnosis and management. Their role in attacking neutrophils contributes to the recruitment and activation of these immune cells, which perpetuates the inflammatory cycle seen in vasculitis.

In contrast, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are primarily associated with autoimmune disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus and are not specific for vasculitis. Antiplatelet antibodies are related to conditions affecting platelet function and thrombosis rather than vascular inflammation. Anti-topoisomerase antibodies are typically linked to systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) rather than vasculitis. Thus, ANCA is distinctively recognized as a key marker in the context of vascul