Background: Upper airway manifestations are common features of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-related vasculitis. Determining the presence of this antibody in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) may allow early identification and treatment of underlying vasculitis. Methods Forty-nine consecutive CRS patients and 165 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated for vasculitis complaints. ANCA were detected by indirect immunofluorescence, and antibodies to proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase were determined by ELISA.
Results: Patients and controls were comparable concerning the mean age (47.2 +/- 15 years versus 45 +/- 12.5 years; p = 0.303) and female predominance (73.5% versus 60%; p = 0.502). Vasculitis-associated complaints were reported in 8/49 (16.3%) patients: 7 patients reported a 10-year history of asthma and 1 patient had red/painful eyes associated with epistaxis. ANCA was positive in 5/49 (10%) patients and absent in controls (p < 0.0001). One patient had high titer cytoplasmic ANCA/PR3 and during the investigation developed clinical features of Wegener's granulomatosis. The other four patients had perinuclear ANCA, of whom three were asymptomatic and one is currently under surveillance for Churg-Strauss syndrome. Sinus computed tomography scan revealed that patients who were ANCA(+) had more extensive disease involvement than ANCA(-) patients (Lund-Mackay score median value, 21 versus 13; p = 0.008).
Conclusion: ANCA may identify a subset of difficult to treat CRS patients with underlying vasculitis and may be useful for establishing an early diagnosis of vasculitis in CRS.