ANCA (anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies)
ANCA are antibodies against components inside neutrophil granulocytes, a group of white blood cells. For gut questions, the atypical form (x-ANCA or atypical p-ANCA) is measured in serum.
What ANCA indicate
When the immune system turns against its own defence cells, autoantibodies arise. Depending on pattern and target, ANCA belong to different conditions: the atypical ANCA occur in inflammatory diseases of the gut and bile ducts, the classic forms (against PR3 or MPO) in inflammation of the blood vessels.
Raised ANCA – what does it mean?
Atypical ANCA are found particularly often in ulcerative colitis and in primary sclerosing cholangitis, an inflammation of the bile ducts, less often in Crohn's disease. They are an additional indication, not proof of a disease; together with ASCA the value helps in assessing chronic gut inflammation.
Low ANCA – what does it mean?
A negative result is unremarkable, but does not rule out chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
The interpretation is given in your report.
Also known as: anca, x-anca, p-anca, ulcerative colitis
Contexts in which this value is measured
- Chronic diarrhoea
- Blood in stool
- Abdominal pain
- Exhaustion
Analyses that include this value
There is currently no analysis in the shop for this value. A practitioner or doctor from the ORY expert network can tell you how else it can be determined.
View the expert networkReference ranges and how your personal value is to be read are set out in your findings report. You discuss the findings with a practitioner or doctor from the ORY expert network.