Anti–Endothelial Cell Antibodies in Vasculitis

[摘要] Anti–endothelial cell antibodies have been described in association with small vessel systemic vasculitides since the late 1980s. Opinions have waxed and waned about their importance. An early study from this group suggested they were present in 59% of 168 samples from patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis,1 while a contemporaneous study by Varagunam using a similar patient cohort (43 microscopic polyangiitis, 27 Wegener’s) suggested that anti–endothelial cell antibodies were not a major antibody system, being present in 2% of patients with polyangiitis and 19% with Wegener’s;2 both studies relied on ELISA with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as a detection system. Other groups have contributed to this debate, some demonstrating a relationship with clinical disease activity.3 A recent study employing 173 serum samples from patients with active Wegener’s suggested a 20% incidence,4 similar to the Varagunam study. Techniques and cell source have been variously suggested as the reason for the lack of consensus, although macrovascular HUVEC have been the main cellular source underpinning detection assays. It has been suggested that cytofluorimetry is a more physiological technique for testing anti–endothelial cell antibodies binding to endothelial cells than ELISA.5

[学科分类] 泌尿医学

[关键词] Bone marrow necrosis;Sickle cell disease;Hyperhemolysis syndrome