Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Unmasked by COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a type of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), in which small- to medium-sized vessels are targeted. The incidence increases with age, and the most commonly affected systems include the sinonasal tract, lungs, and kidneys. Etiology remains unclear, although exposure to environmental triggers, including infections, has been hypothesized to initiate or unmask autoimmunity in genetically predisposed individuals. The nasal microbiome is also hypothesized to play a role in the disease process, although research is still ongoing. In this report, we present a case of a 65-year-old female with a long history of nonspecific musculoskeletal, sinus, and gastrointestinal complaints, who developed multifocal pneumonia with hemoptysis and progressive pulmonary disease shortly after COVID-19 infection.