The efficacy rate in severe bleedings and in major surgery includ

The efficacy rate in severe bleedings and in major surgery including major orthopaedic Rucaparib datasheet surgery has been found to be around 90% in controlled studies, and no serious safety concerns have been demonstrated. The availability of rFVIIa has facilitated the performance of elective major surgery in haemophilia patients with inhibitors. Further steps along the vision of providing a treatment for inhibitor patients similar to non-inhibitor patients have been the efficacy of rFVIIa in home-treatment and recently the encouraging experience in prophylaxis. The concept of using pharmacological doses of rFVIIa as a haemostatic

agent is a new one, which has caused difficulties in finding the correct dose. A step forward has been the demonstration that similar efficacy can be achieved after one single dose of 270 μg kg−1 instead of three injections of a dose of 90 μg kg−1. The higher clearance rate in children suggests that higher doses

may be beneficial in children. The availability of rFVIIa has made advances in the understanding of coagulation processes possible. In a cell-based in vitro model, it has been shown that rFVIIa binds to preactivated platelets if present in concentrations of 30 nm or higher. By doing so, it activates FX into FXa and enhances the thrombin generation on the activated platelet surface in the absence of FVIII/FIX. Through the increased thrombin generation, a firm, well-structured fibrin haemostatic plug, which is resistant to premature lysis, is formed. By exploiting Pexidartinib cell line this mechanism of action, rFVIIa may also be effective in situations other than haemophilia, characterized by an impaired thrombin generation. “
“Summary.  To describe the in-hospital epidemiology of haemophilia A and B in the US we analysed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a stratified probability sample of 20% of all hospital discharges in the US for the year 2007. We applied sampling weights to represent all hospital discharges for haemophilia A and B identified using ICD-9 codes 286.0 and 286.1, respectively. Haemophilia (A or B) was selleck products one of all the listed diagnoses in 9737 discharges

and principal diagnosis in 1684 discharges. The most common associated diagnoses in discharges with Haemophilia in adults and children were hypertension (28.1 ± 1.6%) and central line infections (15.2 ± 1.8%) respectively. No Hepatitis C or HIV was reported in children. Among 212 deaths, associated diagnoses included sepsis (37.9%), heart failure (30.2%), respiratory failure (28.3%), pneumonia (24.5%), HIV (14.2%), hepatic coma (5.2%) and intracranial haemorrhage (2.3%). All fifteen reported paediatric deaths occurred on day zero of life, the commonest associated diagnoses being Intraventricular haemorrhage and newborn haemorrhage-NOS (33% each). Median age of in-hospital mortality for diagnosis of Haemophilia was 68.3 years as compared to 72.3 years for all males for all hospitalizations in NIS combined.

Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online vers

Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article. “
“Background and Aim:  In recent years, a great interest has been dedicated to the development of noninvasive predictive models to substitute liver biopsy for fibrosis assessment and follow-up. Our

aim was to provide a simpler model consisting of routine laboratory markers for predicting liver selleck screening library fibrosis in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in order to optimize their clinical management. Methods:  Liver fibrosis was staged in 386 chronic HBV carriers who underwent liver biopsy and routine laboratory testing. Correlations between routine laboratory markers and fibrosis stage were statistically assessed. After logistic regression analysis, a novel predictive model was constructed. This S index was validated in an independent cohort of 146 chronic HBV carriers in comparison to the SLFG model, Fibrometer, Hepascore, Hui model, Forns score and APRI using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results:  The diagnostic values of each marker

panels Metformin manufacturer were better than single routine laboratory markers. The S index consisting of γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), platelets (PLT) and albumin (ALB) (S-index: 1000 × GGT/(PLT × ALB2)) had a higher diagnostic accuracy in predicting degree of fibrosis than any other mathematical model tested. The areas under the ROC curves (AUROC) were 0.812 and 0.890 for predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in the validation cohort, respectively. Conclusions:  The S index, a simpler mathematical model consisting of routine laboratory markers predicts significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with chronic HBV infection with a high degree

of accuracy, potentially decreasing the need for liver biopsy. Chronic liver diseases (CLD) are common and may lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatic malignancy. selleck inhibitor Detection and staging of liver fibrosis is crucial for management of patients with CLD. At present, liver biopsy is the standard method for staging fibrosis, but biopsies are poorly tolerated because they are invasive and associated with some discomfort and complications. In addition, limitations of biopsy include intra- and inter-observer variation and sampling error.1,2 A new imaging technique, Fibroscan, has been shown to determine the degree of liver fibrosis with high accuracy.3 However, the equipment is expensive and not achievable for routine testing in most clinical units worldwide. In recent years, efforts have been made to develop noninvasive predictive models that may correlate with stage of fibrosis. One of the first noninvasive predictive models for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was the Fibrotest, which includes α2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), apolipoprotein A1 and total bilirubin.

What of the other hepatic responses such as fibrosis? I am often

What of the other hepatic responses such as fibrosis? I am often asked at conferences why, given that the liver responds to damage with scarring, should we have evolved such an apparently adverse response to injury?

I think the answer is straightforward; the genes regulating the scarring process in the liver are identical of course to the whole of the rest of the body, including the skin. I suspect that the evolutionary pressure on the process of scarring has been dominated by the requirement to have a rapid and avid fibrotic response to repair traumatic damage to the skin, gut, and lungs and that scarring is the price we pay to be protected from our environment. Additionally, the scarring response may not have been entirely disadvantageous selleck screening library for hepatic function when humans or lower mammals were living in more adverse circumstances. Indeed, a rapid scarring process is a highly energy-efficient means of dealing with parasites. Because the time frame over which this or other insidious fibrogenic stimuli such as

chronic viral infections impact is measured in years, when the age of reproduction lies between one and two decades, the fibrotic response of internal organs such as the liver may never have had a significant influence on natural selection. Perhaps the liver’s response to injury is actually highly tuned and entirely fit for purpose; our problem is rather that Tipifarnib hepatic insults resulting from a 21st-century lifestyle now challenge this highly evolved response. I wonder what view Darwin would take? “
“The purpose of the present study was to identify molecular markers of hepatic damage during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. LPS (15 mg/kg of bodyweight) or vehicle was injected i.p. into 5-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats. Proteins were extracted from the liver and were electrophoresed to examine the changes in the protein compositions during LPS treatment. Using a proteomic approach, major LPS-responsible protein in the liver was determined. A massive reduction in selleck products the levels of carbamoyl phosphate synthase-1 (CPS1), one of the most abundant proteins in liver mitochondria,

was revealed during LPS administration. Electron microscopic and immunofluorescence analyses revealed large vacuoles, which were often localized in the vicinity of mitochondria, in the LPS-treated rat liver. Furthermore, we found that CPS1 is released into the circulation prior to liver damage marker alanine aminotransferase, indicating the active extrusion of CPS1 during LPS administration. Another liver mitochondrial protein, ornithine transcarbamylase, is also released into the circulation, implicating active extrusion of mitochondrial proteins. These phenomena are accelerated by a heme oxygenase inducer cobalt protoporphyrin whilst suppressed by a lysosome inhibitor chloroquine. Plasma CPS1 should be a possible marker of septic liver damage and may be involved in systemic responses elicited by septic shock.

What of the other hepatic responses such as fibrosis? I am often

What of the other hepatic responses such as fibrosis? I am often asked at conferences why, given that the liver responds to damage with scarring, should we have evolved such an apparently adverse response to injury?

I think the answer is straightforward; the genes regulating the scarring process in the liver are identical of course to the whole of the rest of the body, including the skin. I suspect that the evolutionary pressure on the process of scarring has been dominated by the requirement to have a rapid and avid fibrotic response to repair traumatic damage to the skin, gut, and lungs and that scarring is the price we pay to be protected from our environment. Additionally, the scarring response may not have been entirely disadvantageous Palbociclib mw for hepatic function when humans or lower mammals were living in more adverse circumstances. Indeed, a rapid scarring process is a highly energy-efficient means of dealing with parasites. Because the time frame over which this or other insidious fibrogenic stimuli such as

chronic viral infections impact is measured in years, when the age of reproduction lies between one and two decades, the fibrotic response of internal organs such as the liver may never have had a significant influence on natural selection. Perhaps the liver’s response to injury is actually highly tuned and entirely fit for purpose; our problem is rather that BMN 673 in vivo hepatic insults resulting from a 21st-century lifestyle now challenge this highly evolved response. I wonder what view Darwin would take? “
“The purpose of the present study was to identify molecular markers of hepatic damage during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. LPS (15 mg/kg of bodyweight) or vehicle was injected i.p. into 5-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats. Proteins were extracted from the liver and were electrophoresed to examine the changes in the protein compositions during LPS treatment. Using a proteomic approach, major LPS-responsible protein in the liver was determined. A massive reduction in learn more the levels of carbamoyl phosphate synthase-1 (CPS1), one of the most abundant proteins in liver mitochondria,

was revealed during LPS administration. Electron microscopic and immunofluorescence analyses revealed large vacuoles, which were often localized in the vicinity of mitochondria, in the LPS-treated rat liver. Furthermore, we found that CPS1 is released into the circulation prior to liver damage marker alanine aminotransferase, indicating the active extrusion of CPS1 during LPS administration. Another liver mitochondrial protein, ornithine transcarbamylase, is also released into the circulation, implicating active extrusion of mitochondrial proteins. These phenomena are accelerated by a heme oxygenase inducer cobalt protoporphyrin whilst suppressed by a lysosome inhibitor chloroquine. Plasma CPS1 should be a possible marker of septic liver damage and may be involved in systemic responses elicited by septic shock.

(HEPATOLOGY 2011;) Liver damage caused by liver graft ischemia/re

(HEPATOLOGY 2011;) Liver damage caused by liver graft ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) represents a highly complex cascade of events leading to hepatocellular injury after liver transplantation

(LT). These events are triggered when the liver is transiently Vincristine concentration exposed to hypoxic and hypothermic conditions and is reperfused with warm and oxygenated blood. The procedure is unavoidable during transplantation surgery, and every liver graft suffers from some degree of I/R injury. Liver I/R injury represents a serious problem in LT and significantly affects patient and graft outcomes.1, 2 In a large series of living donor and deceased donor LT patients, a longer cold ischemia time was associated with a higher frequency of early graft failure and with a higher rate of acute cellular rejection.3 Moreover, I/R injury contributes to the donor organ shortage because of the higher susceptibility of marginal livers to ischemic insults. To date, there is no specific treatment available to prevent or reduce hepatic I/R injury, and the current treatment is based merely on supportive care. Thus, extensive Seliciclib order research efforts to better understand the mechanisms of hepatic I/R injury after LT are warranted. B7 homolog 1 (B7-H1), which is also called CD274 and programmed death 1 (PD-1) ligand, is a recently

identified member of the B7 family with important regulatory functions in cell-mediated immune responses.4, 5 Together with the PD-1 receptor, B7-H1 is known to play an important role in regulating see more local immune responses to infection,6, 7 autoimmunity,8, 9 and alloimmunity.10-;12 PD-1 is a member of the CD28 family, which is expressed by activated CD4 and CD8 T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells.13, 14 In

contrast, B7-H1 is expressed by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes, and B cells, upon stimulation.15 Moreover, B7-H1 can be detected in the parenchymal cells of nonlymphoid organs, including hepatocytes.16 A growing number of reports suggest a crucial role for B7-H1 expression in the regulation of local immune responses in the liver. It has been reported that interactions with B7-H1 in the liver selectively delete activated CD8+ T cells.17 Moreover, the spontaneous acceptance of mouse liver grafts is prevented when the grafts lack B7-H1 expression because of the reduced apoptosis of graft-infiltrating host CD8+ T cells.18 In this study, we hypothesized that the hepatic expression of B7-H1 plays crucial roles during innate immune responses induced by hepatic I/R injury, and using B7-H1 knockout (KO) mice, we tested this hypothesis directly in the mouse LT model with prolonged cold preservation (24 hours).

(HEPATOLOGY 2011;) Liver damage caused by liver graft ischemia/re

(HEPATOLOGY 2011;) Liver damage caused by liver graft ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) represents a highly complex cascade of events leading to hepatocellular injury after liver transplantation

(LT). These events are triggered when the liver is transiently Forskolin mouse exposed to hypoxic and hypothermic conditions and is reperfused with warm and oxygenated blood. The procedure is unavoidable during transplantation surgery, and every liver graft suffers from some degree of I/R injury. Liver I/R injury represents a serious problem in LT and significantly affects patient and graft outcomes.1, 2 In a large series of living donor and deceased donor LT patients, a longer cold ischemia time was associated with a higher frequency of early graft failure and with a higher rate of acute cellular rejection.3 Moreover, I/R injury contributes to the donor organ shortage because of the higher susceptibility of marginal livers to ischemic insults. To date, there is no specific treatment available to prevent or reduce hepatic I/R injury, and the current treatment is based merely on supportive care. Thus, extensive Selleck CB-839 research efforts to better understand the mechanisms of hepatic I/R injury after LT are warranted. B7 homolog 1 (B7-H1), which is also called CD274 and programmed death 1 (PD-1) ligand, is a recently

identified member of the B7 family with important regulatory functions in cell-mediated immune responses.4, 5 Together with the PD-1 receptor, B7-H1 is known to play an important role in regulating selleck kinase inhibitor local immune responses to infection,6, 7 autoimmunity,8, 9 and alloimmunity.10-;12 PD-1 is a member of the CD28 family, which is expressed by activated CD4 and CD8 T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells.13, 14 In

contrast, B7-H1 is expressed by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes, and B cells, upon stimulation.15 Moreover, B7-H1 can be detected in the parenchymal cells of nonlymphoid organs, including hepatocytes.16 A growing number of reports suggest a crucial role for B7-H1 expression in the regulation of local immune responses in the liver. It has been reported that interactions with B7-H1 in the liver selectively delete activated CD8+ T cells.17 Moreover, the spontaneous acceptance of mouse liver grafts is prevented when the grafts lack B7-H1 expression because of the reduced apoptosis of graft-infiltrating host CD8+ T cells.18 In this study, we hypothesized that the hepatic expression of B7-H1 plays crucial roles during innate immune responses induced by hepatic I/R injury, and using B7-H1 knockout (KO) mice, we tested this hypothesis directly in the mouse LT model with prolonged cold preservation (24 hours).

3) This may be attributable to starvation-induced elevation in k

3). This may be attributable to starvation-induced elevation in ketone bodies, because they are known to be produced in the mitochondrial matrix of hepatocytes

and have been shown to induce www.selleckchem.com/products/Decitabine.html mitochondrial ROS and dysfunction.30 Elevation of ketone bodies (acetoacetate) has been associated with decreased GSH levels in diabetic patients as well as in vitro cell-culture models.31 Because GSH is a potent ROS scavenger, reduction in GSH levels is important in causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial impairment was dramatically worsened in CD1d−/− and Jα18−/− than WT mice upon APAP challenge, which likely contributes to increased susceptibility of CD1d−/− mice to AILI (Figs. 3B and 8D). Increased ketone body production in NKT cell-deficient mice suggests an underlying role of NKT cells in metabolism. Several lines of evidence support a link between NKT cells and metabolism. Patients with abetalipoproteinemia, a rare Mendelian disorder characterized by a lack of functional microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, also exhibits reduced number of NKT cells and impaired functionality of these cells.32 In murine models of obesity (ob/ob mice), NKT cells are decreased in number.33 Upon adoptive transfer of NKT to ob/ob mice, a significant reduction in liver steatosis was observed, coinciding with

marked improvement in glucose sensitivity.34 Furthermore, stimulation and expansion of NKT cell populations by means of norepinephrine or glucocerebroside injection has been shown to decrease size and fat accumulation AZD6244 solubility dmso in the liver and decrease overall hepatic injury.35 The mechanisms by which NKT cells regulate metabolism during conditions check details of energy deficit or oversupply remain largely unknown, despite several recent studies on this topic.36, 37 We hypothesize that intrinsic IL-4 production by NKT cells may be critical in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. A recent report suggests that IL-4 activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 in hepatocytes can regulate fatty acid (FA) oxidation by suppression

of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha.38 It is also reported that IL-4 increases thermogenic gene expression, FA mobilization, and energy expenditure by means of stimulating alternatively activated macrophages.39 Another study demonstrated that IL-4 produced by eosinophils in adipose tissue is important in protecting mice from high-fat-diet–induced obesity.40 It is our plan for future studies to examine the role of endogenous IL-4 production by NKT cells in metabolic regulation, which will require the use of IL-4-reporter mice. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that NKT cells protect mice from AILI because genetic deletion of these cells causes significantly higher ketone body production upon starvation.

3) This may be attributable to starvation-induced elevation in k

3). This may be attributable to starvation-induced elevation in ketone bodies, because they are known to be produced in the mitochondrial matrix of hepatocytes

and have been shown to induce buy Fostamatinib mitochondrial ROS and dysfunction.30 Elevation of ketone bodies (acetoacetate) has been associated with decreased GSH levels in diabetic patients as well as in vitro cell-culture models.31 Because GSH is a potent ROS scavenger, reduction in GSH levels is important in causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial impairment was dramatically worsened in CD1d−/− and Jα18−/− than WT mice upon APAP challenge, which likely contributes to increased susceptibility of CD1d−/− mice to AILI (Figs. 3B and 8D). Increased ketone body production in NKT cell-deficient mice suggests an underlying role of NKT cells in metabolism. Several lines of evidence support a link between NKT cells and metabolism. Patients with abetalipoproteinemia, a rare Mendelian disorder characterized by a lack of functional microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, also exhibits reduced number of NKT cells and impaired functionality of these cells.32 In murine models of obesity (ob/ob mice), NKT cells are decreased in number.33 Upon adoptive transfer of NKT to ob/ob mice, a significant reduction in liver steatosis was observed, coinciding with

marked improvement in glucose sensitivity.34 Furthermore, stimulation and expansion of NKT cell populations by means of norepinephrine or glucocerebroside injection has been shown to decrease size and fat accumulation Rapamycin order in the liver and decrease overall hepatic injury.35 The mechanisms by which NKT cells regulate metabolism during conditions see more of energy deficit or oversupply remain largely unknown, despite several recent studies on this topic.36, 37 We hypothesize that intrinsic IL-4 production by NKT cells may be critical in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. A recent report suggests that IL-4 activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 in hepatocytes can regulate fatty acid (FA) oxidation by suppression

of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha.38 It is also reported that IL-4 increases thermogenic gene expression, FA mobilization, and energy expenditure by means of stimulating alternatively activated macrophages.39 Another study demonstrated that IL-4 produced by eosinophils in adipose tissue is important in protecting mice from high-fat-diet–induced obesity.40 It is our plan for future studies to examine the role of endogenous IL-4 production by NKT cells in metabolic regulation, which will require the use of IL-4-reporter mice. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that NKT cells protect mice from AILI because genetic deletion of these cells causes significantly higher ketone body production upon starvation.

5,25–29 Neutrophils are not normally present in normal colonic mu

5,25–29 Neutrophils are not normally present in normal colonic mucosa. The presence and infiltration of neutrophils into the lamina propria, crypt epithelium (cryptitis) and crypt lumen (crypt abscesses) is a sign of active disease, with the degree of neutrophilic inflammation an indication of disease activity. It is, however, also present in infectious

colitis and other colitides and is not pathognomonic of UC. A minority of UC patients may have cecal patch inflammation, rectal sparing (pediatric patients) or backwash ileitis. Level of agreement: a-82%, b-18%, c-0%, d-0%, e-0% Quality of evidence: II-2 Classification of recommendation: B Non-classical UC features which include cecal patch inflammation, rectal sparing and backwash ileitis have been observed Deforolimus purchase in a small proportion of patients. These features should not be selleck inhibitor confused with CD.30–42 Inflammation of the peri-appendiceal cecal mucosa (‘cecal patch’) is well described in western series, particularly those with left-sided

colitis.30–32 The clinical features and natural history of those with cecal patch inflammation appear to be similar to those with isolated left-sided disease.31 Similarly, cecal patch inflammation has also been described in Asian UC patients, being seen more frequently in those with less extensive disease.33–36 In one study from Japan, it has been shown to better respond to medical therapy but this observation will require confirmation in large controlled selleckchem studies.35 Endoscopic and histologic rectal sparing has been observed in a small proportion of pediatric UC patients at the time of initial presentation37–39 while in adults, it may be seen after topical or systemic therapy for UC.20–23 On the other hand, ‘relative’ rectal sparing has been reported in adult UC patients at presentation.43,44 Inflammation of the distal terminal ileum, termed ‘backwash ileitis’ is seen in up to 20%

of UC patients, typically in those with pancolitis although rarely ileal erosions may occur in those without cecal involvement.40–42 Serological tests (ASCA, pANCA) are not required for the diagnosis of UC but may occasionally be helpful in differentiation of UC from CD. Level of agreement: a-65%, b-23%, c-12%, d-0%, e-0% Quality of evidence: II-1 Classification of recommendation: B Serological markers perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) have been extensively studied in the Caucasian IBD population45 but less data exists for Asian IBD patients.46–55 Although pANCA and ASCA are more specific for UC and CD, respectively, their usefulness is limited by their low sensitivity and not required for the diagnosis of UC in clinical practice. In a meta-analysis, pANCA positivity alone has a 55.3% sensitivity and 88.5% specificity for UC.

5,25–29 Neutrophils are not normally present in normal colonic mu

5,25–29 Neutrophils are not normally present in normal colonic mucosa. The presence and infiltration of neutrophils into the lamina propria, crypt epithelium (cryptitis) and crypt lumen (crypt abscesses) is a sign of active disease, with the degree of neutrophilic inflammation an indication of disease activity. It is, however, also present in infectious

colitis and other colitides and is not pathognomonic of UC. A minority of UC patients may have cecal patch inflammation, rectal sparing (pediatric patients) or backwash ileitis. Level of agreement: a-82%, b-18%, c-0%, d-0%, e-0% Quality of evidence: II-2 Classification of recommendation: B Non-classical UC features which include cecal patch inflammation, rectal sparing and backwash ileitis have been observed Selleckchem Idasanutlin in a small proportion of patients. These features should not be selleck confused with CD.30–42 Inflammation of the peri-appendiceal cecal mucosa (‘cecal patch’) is well described in western series, particularly those with left-sided

colitis.30–32 The clinical features and natural history of those with cecal patch inflammation appear to be similar to those with isolated left-sided disease.31 Similarly, cecal patch inflammation has also been described in Asian UC patients, being seen more frequently in those with less extensive disease.33–36 In one study from Japan, it has been shown to better respond to medical therapy but this observation will require confirmation in large controlled selleck chemical studies.35 Endoscopic and histologic rectal sparing has been observed in a small proportion of pediatric UC patients at the time of initial presentation37–39 while in adults, it may be seen after topical or systemic therapy for UC.20–23 On the other hand, ‘relative’ rectal sparing has been reported in adult UC patients at presentation.43,44 Inflammation of the distal terminal ileum, termed ‘backwash ileitis’ is seen in up to 20%

of UC patients, typically in those with pancolitis although rarely ileal erosions may occur in those without cecal involvement.40–42 Serological tests (ASCA, pANCA) are not required for the diagnosis of UC but may occasionally be helpful in differentiation of UC from CD. Level of agreement: a-65%, b-23%, c-12%, d-0%, e-0% Quality of evidence: II-1 Classification of recommendation: B Serological markers perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) have been extensively studied in the Caucasian IBD population45 but less data exists for Asian IBD patients.46–55 Although pANCA and ASCA are more specific for UC and CD, respectively, their usefulness is limited by their low sensitivity and not required for the diagnosis of UC in clinical practice. In a meta-analysis, pANCA positivity alone has a 55.3% sensitivity and 88.5% specificity for UC.