Mediastinal fibrosis and positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies: coincidence or common etiology?

Intern Med. 2014;53(3):275-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.53.1123.

Abstract

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) with positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) has been reported in several cases. We herein present the case of a 52-year-old woman who was diagnosed with mediastinal fibrosis (MF) on a thoracoscopic surgical biopsy. The patient had positive myeloperoxidase ANCA and thereafter developed crescentic glomerulonephritis, which was considered to be a form of ANCA-related nephritis. Both the MF and crescentic glomerulonephritis favorably responded to immunosuppressive therapy. These findings suggest a common pathogenesis of these disorders involving ANCA positivity, as reported in patients with RPF.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mediastinitis / blood*
  • Mediastinitis / diagnosis*
  • Mediastinitis / etiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Sclerosis / blood*
  • Sclerosis / diagnosis*
  • Sclerosis / etiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic

Supplementary concepts

  • Mediastinal Fibrosis