Wegener's granulomatosis and alveolar hemorrhage - case report

The authors present a clinical case of 55 years old female patient with limited form of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), which first manifestation was non-erosive polyarthritis with rheumatoid factor positive that antedates one decade the pulmonary manifestations. She had acute episodes with purulent expectoration, fever and hemoptysis, with resolution in a week. The chest x-rays demonstrated migratory bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Transthoracic lung biopsy was performed and revealed capilaritis and signs of old and recent hemorrhage. At that time, autoimmunity study was repeated and showed positive for rheumatoid factor, negative anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and high sustained PR3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. The diagnosis of WG was established and cyclophosphamide started. This patient had a less common presentation and a less common histological pattern compared to the typical necrotizing granulomatous inflammation. She was treated with immunosuppression therapy which could have contributed to a mild clinical expression and a lower diagnostic yield. In suspicious cases, repeat the autoimmunity study, when facing new findings, could confirm the correct diagnosis.