Background: The purpose of this study was to describe clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and outcome of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in pediatric patients living in two regions (Southern and Central) of Poland.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of patient hospital records from four large hospitals during a period from 1995 to 2013. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of GPA according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and EULAR/PRINTO/PRES criteria for GPA were analyzed. All patients were subjected to clinical, laboratory, radiological and immunological assessment.
Results: During this 18-year period only 9 children with confirmed diagnosis of GPA (6 girls, 3 boys) were identified. The average age of the disease onset was 12 years (range: 8-16 years). Average delay between first symptoms and diagnosis was approx. 20 months (range: 0-84 months). Organ system involvement at presentation included: kidneys 88.8% (8/9), lungs 77.7% (7/9), ear/nose/ throat 55.5% (5/9), gastrointestinal tract 55.5% (5/9), skin 44.4% (4/9), joints 22.2% (2/9), eyes 11.1% (1/9) and nervous system 11.1% (1/9). In 5 children disease course was progressive (constant progression of sinusitis in one case, end-stage renal disease in two, chronic kidney disease stage IV in one and one child died due to alveolar hemorrhage).
Conclusion: The majority of our patients were females. Clinical features of pediatric GPA were similar to those described in adults. None of our patients developed subglottic stenosis and in only 2 children saddle-nose deformity was observed. Although GPA was treated according to contemporary standards care, disease progression was observed in more than a half of children.
Keywords: Wegener’s granulomatosis; childhood; children; granulomatosis with polyangiitis; vasculitis.