Antigen-specific ANCA ELISAs have different sensitivities for active and treated vasculitis and for nonvasculitic disease.

This study evaluated the performance of 12 assays for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) directed against proteinase 3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in 55 active and 68 treated cases of vasculitis and in nonvasculitic disease. It examined within- and between-assay precision; binding curves, binding levels, and interassay consistency; and sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. All assays were highly sensitive for active vasculitis (median, 94%; range, 91%-96%), but sensitivities were more varied in treated disease (median, 69%; range, 57%-82%).

Enzyme therapy for management of coeliac disease.

Objective: Enzyme therapy based on animal digestive extracts was investigated as a means of completely digesting toxic residues from gluten in the small intestine, thus providing a means of protection of the mucosa.

Material And Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of an encapsulated enzyme extract was conducted in 21 coeliac patients in remission who were challenged with a modest amount of gluten daily over 2 weeks. Enzyme extract (900 mg) in three divided doses was administered during this challenge to half the group and a placebo to the other half in a double-blind, crossover design.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral vitamin B12 supplementation in older patients with subnormal or borderline serum vitamin B12 concentrations.

Objectives: To determine the effect of small doses of oral cyanocobalamin supplements in older patients with low or borderline serum vitamin B12 concentrations but no other evidence of pernicious anemia (PA).

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the efficacy of oral cyanocobalamin 10 microg and 50 microg daily for 1 month.

Setting: Two geriatric hospitals in the North Western Health Care Network, Melbourne, Australia.