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Wegener's granulomatosis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Midline granulomatosis

Symptoms:

Frequent sinusitis is the most common symptom. Other early symptoms include a fever that continues without an obvious cause, night sweats, fatigue, and a general ill feeling ( malaise).

Chronic ear infections are common. Other upper respiratory symptoms include nose bleeds, pain, and sores around the opening of the nose.

Loss of appetite and weight loss are common. Skin changes are also common, but there is no one typical lesion associated with the disease.

There may be symptoms of kidney disease. The urine may be bloody.

Eye problems develop in many people with Wegener's granulomatosis. The eye problems range from mild conjunctivitis to severe swelling of the eye.

Other symptoms include:

  • Chest pain
  • Cough, with or without blood
  • Joint pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Wheezing

Signs and tests:

Your doctor may order a blood test that looks for proteins called antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), which are often found in people with active Wegener's granulomatosis. However, it is not foolproof -- the test may be negative in some patients.

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 better 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. Your doctor may suggest one of the following:

Other tests that may be done include:

  • Reviewed last on: 2/8/2011
  • Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP. Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Channick RN, Rubin LJ. Pulmonary Vaculitis and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. In: Mason RJ, Murray JF, Broaddus VC, Nadel JA, eds. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2005: 1462-1463.

Calabrese LH, Molloy ES, Duna G. Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Harris ED Jr., McInnes IB, Ruddy S, eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008: Chap 82.

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