Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis): An analysis of 59 patients

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) is a type of vasculitis which can be categorized as a sub-branch of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides. This study examined the demographic, clinical, radiographic and laboratory characteristics of patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in Imam Reza Hospital, Mahshad, Iran. The medical records of patients admitted to the Department and Clinic of Rheumatology who were diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2016 were retrospectively studied. Patients were classified according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 classification criteria for Wegener's granulomatosis. A total of 59 GPA-diagnosed patients (55.9% male, 44.1% female) were identified. The male-to-female ratio of the patients was 1.32:1. The mean age was 35.58±15.09 years, with the youngest and oldest patients being 10 and 71 years old, respectively. The mean disease duration was 47.5±32.88 months. The most common involved organs were the upper respiratory tract in 77.9%, lower respiratory tract in 62.7%, kidney in 59.3%, joint/muscle in 49.15%, and eye in 28.8% of patients. Four (6.7%) patients died during the follow-up which had a mean of 3.9 years. In the studied region, GPA inflicts the younger population, and it is more common in males. Instances of upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, and kidney involvement are less common in the present study than in most other studies. GPA might have less severe manifestations in the studied area than in other regions.