High PR3-ANCA positivity in a patient with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Abstract

Proteinase 3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA) is reported to be highly specific to vasculitis compared to myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA. We report a case of a 19-year-old woman with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) with high PR3-ANCA positivity. The patient responded well to intravenous immunoglobulin plus oral steroid, and showed no signs of systemic vasculitis during the subsequent 10 months of follow-up. Our present case suggests that CIDP may accompany high PR3-ANCA levels, which should be differentiated from axonal neuropathy due to vasculitis.

Keywords

• PR3-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA)
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Vasculitic neuropathy