ABSTRACT

Wegener’s granulomatosis is a vasculitis diagnosed with increasing frequency in Mexico. We reported here a 19 years old male patient with a 3 month history of cough, nasal blockade, purulent postnasal drip and fever. The response to the initial management as sinusitis was bad, and dyspnea, hemoptisis, ictericia and abdominal pain were added. Chest radiographs showed bilateral micro and macronodular infiltrates, and the ecocardiogram detected dilated cardiomyopathy. Sepsis was suspected and treated, but cultures were negative and the evolution was torpid. It was decided to perform fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and the transbronchial biopsy showed evidence of angiitis. After other systemic diseases were excluded, a diagnosis of Wegener’s granulomatosis was established and management with prednisone and cyclophosphamide was initiated, obtaining an spectacular improvement.

KEYWORDS

Wegener’s granulomatosis, vasculitis, angiitis.

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