Wegener’s Granulomatosis 2001.12.5

Wegener’s Granulomatosis 2001.12.5

Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG) has the following characteristics: ① onset in young adults; ② upper respiratory tract involvement first (middle ear, nasal turbinates, pharynx, posterior nasal cavity), followed by lung involvement in 95% of patients, kidney involvement, skin and muscle involvement in 85%, neurological involvement, cardiac involvement, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and Raynaud’s phenomenon may also occur. Diagnostic criteria: ① urinalysis: RBC (+ to ++++); if negative, sediment examination can be performed; ② chest X-ray: nodules, cavities, exudation; ③ oral, middle ear, and nasopharyngeal lesions; ④ biopsy showing granulomas, which are difficult to distinguish from cancer cells. In 1982, researchers found that anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are associated with WG, so ANCA positivity can be used as a reference for diagnosis. Treatment for this disease focuses on immunosuppression, commonly using hormones and CTX, which provide temporary relief, and traditional Chinese medicine can also be effective.