[Wegener's granulomatosis as a rare cause for kidney failure]

Course and treatment of a case of Wegener's granulomatosis are reported. A 39-year-old man admitted to the hospital because of abnormal densities demonstrated by the X-ray examination of the chest. The patient developed a rapidly progressive renal failure with renal insufficiency. Diagnosis was obtained by biopsys from the upper respiratory tract and from the kidney. During hemodialysis and immunosuppressive therapy renal function improved and hemodialysis could be stopped. The patient was discharged from the hospital and kept on immunosuppressive therapy. The patient omitted the medication by himself and renal insufficiency reappeared. The disease was progressive and the patient died because of intestinal bleeding. Apart from the description of the symptoms of this rare disease, problems of diagnosis and treatment are discussed.