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Granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Formerly: Wegener's granulomatosis

 

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare disorder in which blood vessels become inflamed. This leads to damage in major organs of the body. It was formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis.

Causes

 

GPA mainly affects blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, ears, lungs, and kidneys. Other areas may also be affected in some cases. The disease can be severe and prompt treatment is important.

The exact cause is unknown, but it is an autoimmune disorder .

GPA is most common in middle-aged adults of northern European descent. It is rare in children, but has been seen in infants as young as 3 months old.

 

Symptoms

 

Frequent sinusitis is the most common symptom. Other early symptoms include a fever that has no clear cause, night sweats, fatigue , and a general ill feeling ( malaise ).

Other common symptoms may include:

  • Chronic ear infections
  • Respiratory such as nose bleeds, pain, and sores around the opening of the nose
  • Cough with or without blood in the sputum .
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath as the disease progresses
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Skin changes such as bruises and ulcers of the skin
  • Kidney problems
  • Bloody urine
  • Eye problems ranging from mild conjunctivitis to severe swelling of the eye.

Less common symptoms include:

  • Joint pain
  • Weakness
  • Abdominal pain

 

Exams and Tests

 

You may have a blood test that looks for proteins called antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). These are often found in people with active GPA. However, this test is sometimes comes back negative even in people with the condition.

A chest x-ray will be done to look for signs of lung disease.

Urinalysis is done to look for signs of kidney disease such as protein and blood in the urine. Sometimes urine is collected over 24 hours to check how the kidneys are working.

A biopsy is sometimes needed to confirm the diagnosis. The exact type of biopsy depends on which area of the body the doctor wants to look at. You may have one of the following:

  • Bronchoscopy with biopsy of the lung
  • Kidney biopsy
  • Nasal mucosal biopsy
  • Open lung biopsy
  • Skin biopsy
  • Upper airway biopsy

Other tests that may be done include:

  • Sinus CT scan
  • Chest CT scan

 

Treatment

 

You may be treated glucocorticoids (such as prednisone). These are given along with other medicines that slow down the immune response.

Medicines used with prednisone to treat GPA include:

  • Rituximab (Rituxan)
  • Azathioprine (Imuran)
  • Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
  • Methotrexate

These medicines are effective in severe disease but they may cause serious side effects. Talk to your health care provider about your treatment plan.

Other medicines used for the condition include:

  • Medicines to prevent bone loss caused by prednisone
  • Folic acid or folinic acid, if you are taking methotrexate
  • Antibiotics to prevent lung infections

 

Support Groups

 

Support groups with others who suffer from similar diseases may help people with the condition and their families learn about the diseases and adjust to the changes associated with the treatment.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

Without treatment, people with severe forms of this disease can die within a few months.

With treatment, the outlook for most patients is good. Most people who receive corticosteroids and other medicines that slow the immune response get much better.

The disease may return about half the time. It often comes back within 2 years of stopping treatment, so ongoing follow-up is needed.

 

Possible Complications

 

Complications most often occur when the disease is not treated. People with GPA develop tissue damage in the lungs, airways, and the kidneys. Kidney involvement may result in blood in the urine and kidney failure . Kidney disease can quickly get worse. Kidney function may not improve even when the condition is controlled by medicines.

If untreated, kidney failure and possibly death occur in most cases.

Other complications may include:

  • Eye swelling
  • Lung failure
  • Coughing up blood
  • Nasal septum perforation (hole inside the nose)
  • Side effects from medicines used to treat the disease

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your health care provider if:

  • You develop chest pain.
  • You cough up blood.
  • You have blood in your urine.
  • You have other symptoms of this disorder.

 

Prevention

 

There is no known prevention.

 

 

References

Falk RJ, Gross WL, Guillevin L, et al. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's): an alternative name for Wegener's granulomatosis. Ann Rheum Dis . 2011;70(4):704. PMID: 21372195 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21372195 .

Savage COS, Harper L. Antineutrophil Cytoplasm Antibody Associated Vasculitis. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, et al, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology . 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 89.

Stone JH. The systemic vasculitides. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 270.

Stone JH, Merkel PA, Spiera R, et al. Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med . 2010;363(3):221. PMID: 20647199 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20647199 .

 
  • Adenocarcinoma - chest X-ray - illustration

    This chest x-ray shows adenocarcinoma of the lung. There is a rounded light spot in the right upper lung (left side of the picture) at the level of the second rib. The light spot has irregular and poorly defined borders and is not uniform in density. Diseases that may cause this type of x-ray result would be tuberculous or fungal granuloma, and malignant or benign tumors.

    Adenocarcinoma - chest X-ray

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  • Wegener's granulomatosis on the leg - illustration

    Wegener's granulomatosis is a disease that can affect many organ systems (systemic) and primarily causes lung (pulmonary) and kidney (renal) disease, but is also capable of affecting the skin.

    Wegener's granulomatosis on the leg

    illustration

  • Respiratory system - illustration

    Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.

    Respiratory system

    illustration

    • Adenocarcinoma - chest X-ray - illustration

      This chest x-ray shows adenocarcinoma of the lung. There is a rounded light spot in the right upper lung (left side of the picture) at the level of the second rib. The light spot has irregular and poorly defined borders and is not uniform in density. Diseases that may cause this type of x-ray result would be tuberculous or fungal granuloma, and malignant or benign tumors.

      Adenocarcinoma - chest X-ray

      illustration

    • Wegener's granulomatosis on the leg - illustration

      Wegener's granulomatosis is a disease that can affect many organ systems (systemic) and primarily causes lung (pulmonary) and kidney (renal) disease, but is also capable of affecting the skin.

      Wegener's granulomatosis on the leg

      illustration

    • Respiratory system - illustration

      Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.

      Respiratory system

      illustration

    Tests for Granulomatosis with polyangiitis

     

       

      Review Date: 1/20/2015

      Reviewed By: Gordon A. Starkebaum, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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