[Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive vasculitis associated to the use of propylthiouracil. Report of four cases].

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive vasculitis is an uncommon complication of the use of propylthiouracil. When it occurs, it affects multiple organs as any systemic vasculitis. We report three females and one male, aged 30, 40, 43 and 41 years respectively, that after a lapse of 12 to 28 months of propylthiouracil use, presented clinical signs of vasculitis. All had high titers of ANCA against myeloperoxidase. In three patients, a skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. The condition subsided when propylthiouracil was discontinued, but one female patient required the use of prednisone.