Pilot study to assess the activation status of the complement system in blood from patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA-) associated vasculitis

Abstract

The present research study will look at the way the complement system, an important part of the immune system, functions in people with vasculitis. Around 20 patients with vasculitis positive for the circulating antibody ANCA will take part in the study. Each patient will provide one blood sample for analysis of several complement components. The patients will be included before starting treatment, when stable in remission, or during flares of vasculitis. The aim of the research is to obtain data on the frequency of evidence of complement activation in vasculitis patients, and to evaluate the correlation of complement activation to disease related clinical and/or laboratory parameter