
ANCA mean Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies Test Introduction The ANCA test, or Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody test, is a critical diagnostic tool in the field of rheumatology and immunology. It plays a pivotal role in identifying various autoimmune diseases, particularly a group of conditions known as ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). ANCAs attack healthy white blood cells called neutrophils. This can lead to a disorder called autoimmune vasculitis . There are several types of autoimmune vasculitis, but they all cause inflammation and swelling in your blood vessels. When this happens, your blood vessels can narrow or close off. This can cause different types of serious health problems depending on which blood vessels in your body are affected. There are two main kinds of ANCA called pANCA and cANCA. Testing for pANCA can also help diagnose certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a group of chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune diseases that cau...