Renal Involvement in Wegener’s Granulomatosis

Abstract

Three patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis due to Wegener’s granulomatosis are described. In one patient, acute renal failure was initially the sole manifestation of the disease. Treatment of the two other patients with prednisone and cyclophosphamide resulted in a remarkable recovery of renal function even after a prolonged period of hemodialysis. These cases illustrate that early and sustained treatment with prednisone and cyclophosphamide can restore an adequate renal function in patients with anuria or severe glomerulonephritis due to Wegener’s disease.

Renal Pathologic Features of Wegener's Granulomatosis: A Review

“…5 WG rarely presents as an isolated renal disease. [6][7][8] The diagnosis of WG requires the observation of specific histopathologic changes in the respiratory tract. 9 Diagnostic biopsies of respiratory tract lesions may be difficult to obtain.…”