J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2004 Dec;11(4):333-341.

A New Digital Image Processing Technique for Mixed Pattern Analysis of Anti-neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Test

• Sir JU
• Kim TY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) is an important marker for the diagnosis and the classification of rheumatic diseases and systemic vasculitis. If the autoantibodies that can be stained in the nucleus of neutrophil used for substrate of ANCA test, there's a need for its differential diagnosis from real p-ANCA. This paper focuses on digital image processing technique for the differentiation of p-ANCA without performing additional tests.
METHODS
Positive ANCA results which showed mixed fluorescent pattern were transformed into digital image. Using Matlab (MathWorks, U.S.A.), we developed 2D to 3D transformation method and virtual tomography for the interpretation of mixed fluorescent pattern, and compared these results with ANA and anti-DNA test by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) method using IT-AIT, IT-ANCA, and IT-DNA kit (ImmunoThink, Korea).
RESULTS
By applying the 3D transformation method and virtual tomography to the results of ANCA test where combined antibodies exist, we were able to separate each different fluorescent pattern that were difficult to separate by manual reading.
CONCLUSION
The new digital image analysis methods developed in this study displace some of the disadvantages of IIF method. Therefore, these methods can easily be applied to complex samples, and can allow rapid and accurate tests for rheumatic diseases and other autoimmune diseases.

Keyword

Computer assisted image processing; Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody; Anti-DNA antibodies; Antinuclear antibody; Indirect immunofluorescence assay

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic*
Antibodies, Antinuclear
Autoantibodies
Autoimmune Diseases
Classification
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Neutrophils
Rheumatic Diseases
Systemic Vasculitis
Antibodies
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic
Antibodies, Antinuclear
Autoantibodies