Related Experiment Videos
Wegener's granulomatosis with complete heart block
R Handa1, J P Wali, P Aggarwal
1Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) can cause complete heart block. Early treatment with steroids and cyclophosphamide may reverse this, potentially avoiding permanent pacemakers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), a form of vasculitis, can affect multiple organs.
- Cardiac involvement in WG, though rare, can lead to significant morbidity.
Observation:
- A patient with WG presented with complete heart block.
- The cardiac conduction system was implicated as a site of WG activity.
Findings:
- Treatment with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide resulted in the regression of complete heart block.
- A persistent first-degree atrioventricular block remained after treatment.
Implications:
- Early immunosuppressive therapy in WG may prevent the need for permanent cardiac pacing.
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing and promptly treating cardiac manifestations of WG.