Wegener’s Granulomatosus

Wegener’s Granulomatosus – General Information

Wegener’s Granulomatosus is a rare disorder which is characterized by the appearance of vasculitis, which is an inflammation of the blood vessels which results in the impossibility of the blood to reach certain organs in the body. This disorder usually affects the lungs, the kidneys and the superior part of the respiratory tract. Because of the restriction of the blood to these organs, the patient can experience serious problems and damages. However, this disease is not characterized just by the appearance and development of vasculitis, but also by the appearance of an inflammatory tissue which destroys the normal one in the affected organs. The most important thing which should be known about Wegener’s Granulomatosus is the fact that if it is discovered in due time it can be treated efficiently but, if the sufferer does not receive any medical care or any treatment, this disorder can even be fatal.

The development of this disease made the doctors to consider it an infection but there was found no infectious agent which can lead to its appearance. However, the doctors now agree that Wegener’s Granulamatosus is caused by an overactive response of the immune system to an allergic reaction. The reports have shown that this disease can appear at any age, but it is more likely to affect people between 35 and 55. The frequency rate is the same in the case of men and women; on the other hand, this disease is more likely to affect white people and, in some cases, the habitat can increase its frequency.

Wegener’s Granulomatosus – Symptoms

The signs and symptoms which characterize the appearance and development of Wegener’s Granulomatosus can appear either gradually or suddenly. This usually depends on the sufferer’s general health condition. However, the first signs which develop affect the respiratory tract and, after that, the blood vessels and the organs in the body. The most common signs and symptoms which have been reported are the following: nosebleeds, runny nose, cough, inflammation and pain of the sinus, ear infections, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, swelling, appetite loss, general illness, joint aches, generalized pain, skin sores, decreased vision, double vision, eye redness, fatigue, weakness, anemia and fever.

In some cases the disease is limited to the respiratory tract and does not affect other organs. However, even if other organs are affected, such as the kidneys, no other signs and symptoms develop; in this case, in order to determine whether other organs are affected or not, the doctor has to perform a blood test and a urine test. If you notice the appearance of one or more of the signs and symptoms presented above, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible in order to obtain a sure diagnosis and to benefit from the best way of treatment. On the other hand, if we consider the fact that Wegener’s Granulomatosus, in its early stage, can be confounded with other minor problems, there are also some other situations in which a person should consult a doctor. For example, if you have a runny nose which does not react to cold medicines you may suffer from this disorder.

Wegener’s Granulomatosus – Treatment

In order to obtain a sure diagnosis, your doctor will ask for an exact description of your signs and symptoms, he will perform a physical examination and he will probably ask for some information about your medical history. In addition to these, your doctor can also recommend you to take one or more of the following tests: a blood test, a urine test, a biopsy of the affected tissue and a chest x-ray. The blood test is necessary in order to detect the presence of antibodies in the sufferer’s organism. In a normal situation, the antibodies are produced in order to protect the organism against some infectious and bacterial agents, but in the case of Wegener’s Granulomatosus, the large number or antibodies which are produced start to attack the cells of the body. A blood test can also provide information about the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the presence of anemia.  A urine test is taken in order to determine if the disease also affected other organs, such as the kidneys, in this case. However, the surest test which can be taken is a biopsy of the affected tissue; this test consists of the removal of a small area of affected tissue and its examination. The tissue sample can be taken form the nasal passages, the lungs, the airways or the skin. The chest x-ray is not really necessary, especially if we take into consideration the fact that it can not provide exact information about the presence of Wegener’s Granulomatosus. 

These tests should be taken as soon as possible, because the stage of the disease is extremely important in order to choose the best treatment. If the disease is diagnosed soon enough, the patient can recover completely in just a few months. However, after the treatment is administrated, the patient should continue to be monitored as the disease can reappear. The most common way to treat Wegener’s Granulomatosus, especially if it is diagnosed in an early stage, is the administration of medicines, such as corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs. However, these drugs can lead to the appearance of some severe side-effects and that is the reason why your doctor has to supervise and monitor you during the treatment. On the other hand, in order to prevent the development of some side-effects, the doctor can also prescribe the administration of some medicines, such as the folic acid and bisphosphonates.  If Wegener’s Granulomatosus is associated with other complications, such as kidney failure, the doctor will probably choose to perform a surgery. This intervention usually consists of a kidney transplant. However, this type of surgery is quite risky, as the organism may reject the new organ. However, the most important thing which should be remembered by those who suffer from Wegener’s Granulomatosus is the fact that this disease can be treated, but it is extremely important how they act after the treatment. In order to eliminate the possibility of the reappearance of this disease, the patients have to inform about this disorder and they have to benefit from a strong emotional support from their friends and family.