Laryngeal manifestations of vasculitic disease

Vasculitis can involve the larynx in 4% to 10% of cases and can cause arthritis, edema, or upper airway obstruction within the larynx. Since most of these laryngeal manifestations are nonspecific, the clinician needs to keep a high index of suspicion when a patient complains of hoarseness or laryngeal discomfort and chronic constitutional symptoms. We present a case of crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with antineutrophil crytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA). In addition, we discuss the usefulness and indications of ANCA serology and review multiple laryngeal manifestations that have been associated with common vasculitides and reported in the medical literature.