ANCA

ANCA, or antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, are abnormal proteins produced by the immune system that mistakenly target certain cells in the blood called neutrophils. These antibodies are linked to specific types of autoimmune diseases, such as granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis, which cause inflammation and damage in blood vessels, affecting organs like the kidneys and lungs. Detecting ANCA helps doctors diagnose these conditions, understand their severity, and guide appropriate treatment. Overall, ANCA are markers that signal the immune system is attacking the body's own blood vessels, leading to inflammation and tissue damage.