Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Abstract

We studied the usefulness of monitoring antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a major complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Antigen-specific ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) were used to search for ANCA in 47 allogeneic bone marrow graft recipients who developed cGVHD and in 43 who did not (controls). Eight patients exhibited ANCA IIF positivity in the cGVHD group, but none in the controls. Specificity was confirmed in antigen-specific assays in only two cGVHD patients, both showing antilactoferrin (anti-LF) activity. One of these patients was followed-up, and antilactoferrin antibodies were found only at the time of active but limited cGVHD. Among three ANCA IIF-positive patients, two had antinuclear autoantibodies and three antineutrophil alloantibodies secondary to blood transfusion, which may have been responsible for false ANCA IIF positivity. It is concluded that ANCA determination is not useful in patients with cGVHD. Polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes could result in ANCA activity during cGVHD. False-positive ANCA could be due to allo-immunization following blood transfusion. Rare patients may present antilactoferrin antibodies of unknown clinical significance.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martin, S., Audrain, M., Oksman, F. et al. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 20, 45–48 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1700828

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1700828

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links