The clinical and pathological characteristics of Chinese elderly patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies associated small vessel vasculitis

Background. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) are serological markers of ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis (AASV) which is one of common autoimmune diseases in Caucasian elderly population. Objective. To analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of Chinese elderly patients with AASV. Methods. One-hundred forty one Chinese patients with AASV over 65 years old, diagnosed between 1997 and 2001 in the Institute of Nephrology of Peking University First Hospital, were retrospectively studied and their clinical and pathological data were analyzed. Results. Patients diagnosed with AASV patient increased chronologically with the yearly ratio in 2000 and 2001 significantly ( P