Acro-osteolysis and mononeuritis multiplex as a presenting symptom of systemic angiitis of Wegener's type

• Published in: Indian journal of medical sciences Vol. 61; no. 4; pp. 212 - 215
• Main Authors: Modi, M, Vats, A K, Prabhakar, S, Singla, V, Mishra, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2007; Medip Academy
• Subjects: Acro-Osteolysis - complications; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic - analysis; Case studies; Causes of; Diagnosis; Drug therapy; Fingers - diagnostic imaging; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - complications; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - diagnosis; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - drug therapy; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Mononeuritis multiplex; Mononeuropathies - complications; Osteolysis; Radiography; Vasculitis - diagnosis; Wegener's granulomatosis; India
• ISSN: 0019-5359; 1998-3654
• DOI: 10.4103/0019-5359.31155

Wegener's granulomatosis is a multisystem disorder involving small- and medium-sized vessels, leading to granuloma formation and involvement of upper and lower respiratory tract with or without glomerulonephritis. However, limited forms of angiitis and granulomatosis of the Wegener's type with oligosymptomatic and atypical site involvement are known to occur. We present here a rare case of limited form of angiitis and granulomatosis of Wegener's type who presented sequentially with spontaneous resorption of digits with acro-osteolysis and mononeuritis multiplex over a period of 10 months. His vasculitic workup revealed high proteinase 3 antibodies (c-ANCA) titers and an almost asymptomatic lung involvement, detected on high-resolution computed tomography of chest. The patient was aggressively treated with immunosuppressive therapy, following which he showed good improvement.