A Case Report of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Presenting with Chronic Conjunctivitis

An adult female presents for chronic eye complaints refractory to outpatient ophthalmology management, as well as purpuric rash, Reynaud's symptoms, and reported nodules. She received ophthalmology and rheumatology consultations while in the emergency department (ED) and was subsequently admitted. Expedited rheumatologic workup revealed evidence of granulomatosis with polyangiitis, a rare and potentially debilitating autoimmune vasculitis. She was ultimately discharged after an eight-day hospital course on a long prednisone taper with plan for outpatient management and transition to long-term therapy. This report documents a case warranting high clinical suspicion for an undiagnosed condition in a patient with demonstrably poor access to longitudinal care and the subsequent, in-hospital diagnosis of a rare disease facilitated by ED clinician action.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, vasculitis, autoimmune, ophthalmology, rash.