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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffWegener's granulomatosis (VEG-uh-nurz gran-u-loe-muh-TOE-sis) is an uncommon disorder that causes inflammation of your blood vessels, which in turn restricts blood flow to various organs. Most commonly Wegener's granulomatosis affects your kidneys, lungs and upper respiratory tract. The restricted blood flow to these organs can damage them.
Besides inflamed blood vessels, Wegener's granulomatosis produces a type of inflammatory tissue known as a granuloma, found around the blood vessels. Granulomas can destroy normal tissue. There is no known cause for Wegener's granulomatosis.
Early diagnosis and treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis may lead to a full recovery. Without treatment, Wegener's granulomatosis can be fatal, most commonly from kidney failure.
- Wegener's granulomatosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec04/ch033/ch033k.html#sec04-ch033-ch033k-362. Accessed July 26, 2010.
- Wegener's granulomatosis. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/wegeners/Pages/Default.aspx. Accessed July 26, 2010.
- Hellmann DB, et al. Musculoskeletal and immunologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2010. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=10083. Accessed July 30, 2010.
- Langford CA, et al. The vasculitis syndromes. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2859426. Accessed July 30, 2010.
- King TE, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 26, 2010.
- Stone JH, et al. Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2010;363:221.
- Turnball J, et al. Adverse effects of therapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis. Best Practice and Research Clinical Rheumatology. 2009;23:391.
- Rosenow E (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 3, 2010.
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