Detection of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in Patients With Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Cutaneous Vasculitis With Mixed Cryoglobulinemia

Abstract

We have read with interest 2 excellent studies 1,2 and 1 extensive review 3 dealing with vasculitis and essential mixed cryoglobulinemia associated with hepatitis C virus infections. Because no mention is made of the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) in any of these articles or in the literature we reviewed after a MEDLINE search, we report our preliminary findings in a retrospective review of sequential cases of histopathologically proved cutaneous vasculitis, aimed to assess the diagnostic role of ANCA determinations in this context. Patients and Methods. We reviewed the clinical records of all patients with cutaneous vasculitis confirmed by a skin biopsy that had been seen in our dermatology clinic from January 1990 to January 1994. The presence of ANCAs was determined in 50 patients of the 183 patients whose case records were included for review. Routine analytical screening for these patients included blood cell counts (by the