Wegener's granulomatosis confined to nervous system

BMJ Case Rep. 2008:2008:bcr0620080283. doi: 10.1136/bcr.06.2008.0283. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

Abstract

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a multisystemic necrotising granulomatous vasculitis of small and medium sized vessels, that primarily involves the upper and lower respiratory tracts, lung tissues and kidneys. Serum antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are a sensitive and specific marker of WG. Whereas the peripheral nervous system is often involved in WG, central nervous system manifestations are reported only in 2-8%, and are rarely present at onset. We report on a patient with atypical neurological presentation of ANCA negative WG in whom the diagnosis was made only after a meningeal biopsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Dysphonia / etiology
  • Female
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / complications
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / diagnosis*
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / drug therapy
  • Humans

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic