Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Wegener's Granulomatosis) Complicated with Ruptured Posteromedial Papillary Muscle in the Absence of Coronary Angiographic Findings

Cardiology. 2015;132(1):22-5. doi: 10.1159/000382096. Epub 2015 May 23.

Abstract

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis, associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated systemic vasculitis, and it can affect many organ systems via the inflammation of small-to-medium-sized vessels. Cardiac involvements in GPA are relatively rare. We report a 75-year-old woman who was diagnosed with GPA and rapid progressive glomerulonephritis that resulted in a partial posteromedial papillary muscle rupture, but with no coronary angiographic findings. The surgical and pathological findings with regard to the ruptured papillary muscle revealed necrotic muscle and acute ischemic change. The mechanism of papillary muscle rupture in GPA is coronary vasculitis leading to myocardial infarction. The ischemic change is not always detected on coronary angiography, so assessment using an echocardiogram is important.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / pathology*
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications*
  • Papillary Muscles / physiopathology*