Wegener's syndrome

What it is?

Wegener's syndrome is an inflammatory disease that affects small blood vessels and the airways. The disease is based on the formation of granulomas in tissues, which disintegrate, leaving behind ulcerative defects. Wegener's syndrome most often occurs around the age of 40, affecting both women and men equally often.

How does this happen?

Wegener's syndrome develops gradually, a person complains of weight loss, weakness, pain in joints and muscles, and a prolonged increase in body temperature to 37-37.5°C. Hemorrhagic rashes form on the skin, at the site of which ulcers subsequently appear.

The disease can occur in two forms - localized and generalized.

The localized form occurs with primary damage to the respiratory system. The patient complains of a persistent runny nose, nosebleeds, and accumulation of crusts in the nose. Numerous ulcers occur on the nasal mucosa, perforation of the nasal septum, and deformation of the nose.

Damage to the trachea is manifested by a hacking cough and hoarseness. Infiltrates form in the lungs, leaving cavities. During this period, the patient is bothered by a cough with purulent-bloody sputum. In severe cases, infectious complications occur - pneumonia, multiple lung abscesses. Sometimes the pleura is involved in inflammation, then symptoms of pleurisy occur.

In the generalized form, in addition to the lungs, the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system are affected. The kidneys are affected by the type of glomerulonephritis - with increased blood pressure, edema, and rapid progression of the disease. Inflammatory changes in the digestive system are varied: dyspepsia, stomatitis, glossitis, esophagitis, gastritis.

An X-ray of the lungs reveals dark spots at the site of infiltrates and cavities. Microscopy of tissues altered by inflammation helps confirm the diagnosis. The patient's death may occur from renal or respiratory failure.