Airway involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2007 Nov;33(4):755-75, vi. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2007.09.004.

Abstract

Wegener's granulomatosis is characterized by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and necrotizing vasculitis affecting predominantly small arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and venules. In contrast to the well-described pulmonary parenchymal involvement of Wegener's granulomatosis, the lower airway (tracheobronchial) disease manifestations are less well recognized by clinicians. Consequently, mild disease of the airways is easily missed. There is a relative paucity of published information on various tracheobronchial manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis. This article provides a comprehensive review of the diagnosis and management of the infraglottic tracheobronchial disease manifestations.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bronchial Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Bronchial Diseases / etiology
  • Bronchial Diseases / therapy*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Glottis
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / diagnosis*
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / drug therapy
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Laryngeal Diseases / etiology
  • Laryngeal Diseases / therapy*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Respiratory Function Tests
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed