Low dose radiotherapy as an effective treatment in a patient with solitary Wegener's granulomatosis resistant to systemic treatment - case report

Wegener's granulomatosis is a rare disease (10 per 1 000 000 new cases per year), etiologically connected with necrotizing vasculitis of small to medium-size vessels. The disease occurs predominantly in the upper respiratory tract, lungs and kidneys, but any organ may be affected during the course of the illness. It may be difficult to diagnose, especially when c-ACNA antibodies (serologic symptom of Wegener's granulomatosis) are undetectable and chest X-ray is normal. Early diagnosis is crucial for treatment results. Untreated disease may lead to death. Cyclophosphamide used simultaneously with prednisone is the treatment of choice as the first line procedure. Resistance to standard systemic treatment may be a significant problem. New drugs (rituximab, infliximab) are still under clinical investigation, with promising results. Very limited data concerning effectiveness of radiation therapy exist. We present a report of a female patient with solitary form of Wegener's granulomatosis located in the facial region, who underwent successful radiation therapy with a complete response.

Wegener's granulomatosis: a review of clinical features and an update in diagnosis and treatment

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an idiopathic, systemic inflammatory disease characterized by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and pauci-immune small-vessel vasculitis of upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys. The condition affects both genders equally, although some inconsistent gender differences have been observed. The aetiology of WG remains unknown although a number of exogenous factors have been suggested to be of aetiological relevance. Most clinical characteristics of this disease are non-specific, making clinical diagnosis challenging. Histopathological examination of lesional and peritoneal tissue is not pathognomonic, but is an essential investigation to confirm the presence of disease and exclude other disorders. At present, despite the increasingly wide range of potential therapies, cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids remain the most recognized and effective means of inducing and sustaining remission of WG.

Pancreatic mass as an initial presentation of severe Wegener's granulomatosis

Acute pancreatitis or a pancreatic mass is a very rare initial presentation of Wegener's granu-lomatosis. A 62-year-old woman presented with tumor-like pancreatitis and otitis media Abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance suggested the presence of pancreatic tumor. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was negative. Distal pancreatic resection and splenectomy were performed and histopathology proved Wegener's vasculitis of the pancreas and spleen. Azathioprine and steroids were subsequently started and six months later the patient was asymptomatic. Involvement of the pancreas could be considered as a presenting symptom of Wegener's vasculitis.

Strawberry gingivitis: A diagnostic feature of gingival Wegener's granulomatosis!

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an immunologically mediated inflammatory disease characterized by granulomatous vasculitis of the upper and lower aerodigestive tracts together with glomerulonephritis. We are reporting a rare case of gingival WG that presented with erythematous and painful generalized gingival enlargement. Correlation of histopathology with routine hematoxylin and eosin and special stains [Grocott-Gomori methenamine-silver nitrate and Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)], Mantoux test, peripheral blood smear and clinical presentation were established in diagnosing this rare entity. By the above-mentioned procedures and methodology, we have arrived at the diagnosis of Wegner's granulomatosis limited to the upper aerodigestive tract. Therefore, the aim of reporting this case was to emphasize that, the dental surgeon often being the first person to examine the oral cavity, should be familiar with the typical appearance of gingival WG as "strawberry gingivitis," its clinical course as well as diagnostic parameters and adequate management. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of WG manifesting as "strawberry gingivitis" in the Indian population.

Myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies with Cytoplasmic Fluorescence Pattern

We report here two rare cases of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-positive Wegener's granulomatosis (limited variant) which deceptively produced a cytoplasmic (C-ANCA) pattern on indirect immunofluorescence.

Bilateral scleromalacia perforans and peripheral corneal thinning in Wegener's granulomatosis

A rare case of bilateral scleromalacia perforans, bilateral peripheral corneal thinning (contact lens cornea) and unilateral orbital inflammatory disease in a 50 year old female patient with an indolent form Wegener's granulomatosis(WG) involving lungs and sinuses is reported. The patient survived for 12 years after the initial diagnosis of systemic disease. There was perforation of left globe following trauma and no perforation of the right globe till the last follow up of the patient.

Granulomatous endocarditis in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis

Echocardiographic examination of patients with granulomatous endocarditis in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) reveals vegetation-like lesions that may be misdiagnosed as infective endocarditis resulting in inappropriate therapy. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography aids differential diagnosis. Here, we report the case of a WG patient with associated mitral and aortic granulomatous endocarditis. Although the patient was treated with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide, serial echocardiography did not reveal any significant changes in disease course.

A patient with Wegener's granulomatosis in apparent remission presenting with complete atrioventricular block

Wegener's granulomatosis is a systemic necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis of small- to medium-sized vessels typically affecting upper and lower airways, lungs, and kidneys. Cardiac involvement is less common and conducting tissue involvement is extremely rare. Cardiac manifestations are often not clinically apparent, but are associated with increased mortality. We report the case of a 36-year-old female with Wegener's thought to be in remission, presenting in complete atrioventricular (AV) block, with echocardiographic evidence of basal interatrial septum and basal lateral left atrial wall thickening. Despite immunosuppression therapy a permanent pacemaker was required for recurring complete AV block. Although rare, this case emphasizes the need for careful and regular screening for cardiac involvement in this multi-system condition.

Reversible Sensorineural Hearing Loss due to Pachymeningitis Associated with Elevated Serum MPO-ANCA

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a progressive disease resulting in a diffuse thickening of dura mater due to inflammation, tumor or autoimmune diseases, but most cases are idiopathic. It is seldom reported to be related to sensorineural hearing loss, but it can cause sensorineural hearing loss which can be potentially reversed through treatment. Here, we report the case of a 54-year-old woman who had progressive, bilateral, worse in the left, sensorineural hearing loss and visual disturbance with an accompanying headache over several months. Brain MRI showed diffusely thickened dura mater, highly enhanced after gadolinium administration, which was consistent with pachymeningitis. It was assumed to be related to autoimmune pathogenesis on the basis of elevated serum myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA) titers. After empirical steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy, auditory impairment improved, especially in the high frequency region of the pure tone audiogram, and significant improvement in the word recognition test. Moreover, a follow-up MRI revealed much decreased enhancement of the dura mater, and the MPO-ANCA titer decreased to within the normal range. In the case of rapidly progressive sensorineural hearing loss or hearing impairment accompanying other cranial neuropathy, pachymeningitis should be taken into consideration, and brain MRI with gadolinium enhancement is the best method of detecting it. Also, to ensure proper treatment, a cautious evaluation including an ANCA work-up should be performed.

Cardiac manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis: Case report and review of the literature

Wegener's granulomatosis, first characterized as a clinical syndrome in 1936, is a rare form of vasculitis of the small- and medium-sized blood vessels affecting mainly the upper and lower respiratory tracts as well as the kidneys. This review article describes the case of a 45-year-old man who developed aortic regurgitation and third degree heart block secondary to Wegener's granulomatosis. He subsequently presented to our institution 3 years later with pulmonary hemorrhage. The ensuing literature review reveals that historically clinical cardiac involvement in Wegener's has been rare, particularly with valvular lesions. However, recent literature has shown an increase in reported cases of cardiac valvular lesions in Wegener's. The presented case report along with recently reported case reports highlight the morbidity and mortality associated with such cardiac lesions. We believe routine cardiovascular supervision including echocardiography and electrocardiograms are important for the screening and monitoring of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis.

Pregnancy complicating Wegener's granulomatosis

Pregnancy associated with Wegener's granulomatosis is rare. Therapeutic options are limited. There is a paucity of published literature to guide clinical decision-making in these complex patients. Two cases are presented. Firstly, a 33-year-old woman with generalized Wegener's in remission and off all medications presented with a flare in the third trimester with haemoptysis, raised C-reactive protein and c-anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA) levels. Her care was complicated by florid steroid-induced psychosis. With deteriorating disease control, she was treated with pulsed-intravenous cyclophosphamide with a good response. She delivered a healthy baby at 38 weeks. She had a severe postpartum flare. Secondly, a 37-year-old woman with limited Wegener's in remission for the last two years and off all treatment became pregnant after pre-conception counselling. A normal baby was delivered at term. An exhaustive review of all published literature on Wegener's activity in pregnancy is presented along with therapeutic options and recommendations.