The Spectrum of Wegener's Granulomatosis and Disease Relapse
Wegener's syndrome (Wegener's granulomatosis) is a rare systemic disorder, and because it involves multiple organs, affected patients may seek help from physicians in many specialties. It is classified as a type of primary systemic vasculitis, and the typical renal glomerular involvement is histologically identical to that seen in microscopic polyangiitis. However, Wegener's syndrome also involves multiple other organs. The clinical picture includes airway disease and skin, eye, and joint involvement, which therefore figure in the diagnostic criteria. Unlike microscopic polyangiitis, the lesions in Wegener's syndrome are largely granulomatous. Vasculitis and granulomata can occur in the same lesion, but they commonly . . .