To evaluate the clinical association of ANCA to glomerulonephritis and
probe the possible use of ANCA as a marker for continuing the
immunosuppressive therapy in these cases, a study was conducted on 50
histologically proven glomerulonephritis. The cases were divided into two
groups. Group I (14 cases) with primary G.N., and group 11 (36 cases) with
secondary G.N. Group II was further subdivided into SLE (10 cases),WG.
(6 cases), PSGN (10 cases), CSS (5 cases), and PAN (5 cases). The severity
of G.N. was determined clinically and using laboratory investigation in the
form of the presence of haematuria, casts, proteinuria (> 3g/24hrs), serum
creatinine level (51.3 mg/di).
The ANCA positivity was determined in all the groups and correlated to the
disease entity, severity, and remission & relapse. It was found ANCA
positivity correlates well to the severity (p<0.05 with a positive r). It also
correlates to relapses as it was found to be positive in 62.5% of cases in
relapse, the difference between the remission & relapse was found to be
statistically significant (p<0.05).
The study could conclude that ANCA may be used as a follow-up tool for
patients with G.N and receiving immunosuppressive therapy, as it may
affect the drug regimen. |
