The net effect of ANCA on neutrophil extracellular trap formation

The formation of neutrophil extracellular traps induced by antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies has been implicated in the pathogenesis of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis. Kraaij et al. now provide evidence that excessive neutrophil extracellular trap formation in vitro induced by sera from patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis is associated with active disease but is not dependent on the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies.