LAS VEGAS – Vasculitis isn’t always the final diagnosis, even with a positive ANCA.
A wide range of conditions – even bacterial endocarditis and adulterated cocaine – can set up secondary vasculitis, and it’s easy to mistake one of them for the main problem when it’s really only a sideshow. Clinicians are especially likely to get in trouble if they rely on ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody) as a screening test for vasculitis.
In an interview at a conference held by the Global Academy for Medical Education, Dr. Brian Mandell, a rheumatology professor at the Cleveland Clinic, explained how to avoid the trap. The Global Academy for Medical Education and this news organization are owned by Frontline Medical Communications.