Wegener’s granulomatosis
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GC: n

S: MN – http://www.medicinenet.com/wegeners_granulomatosis/article.htm (last access: 12 June 2017); emedicine – https://www.emedicinehealth.com/wegener_granulomatosis/article_em.htm (last access: 4 May 2018).

N: 1. – Wegener (pn): Friedrich Wegener was a German pathologist (1907-1990).

– granulomatosis (n): 1911, granuloma + -t- from Greek + –ōsis.

2. Wegener’s granulomatosis is a very rare disease that affects many different organs and systems of the body. It mainly attacks the respiratory system (sinuses, nose, windpipe, and the lungs) and the kidneys. One of the main features of the disease is an inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). The inflammation narrows the blood vessels and reduces the blood flow to the affected organs. This destroys tissues and damages vital organs.

3. Causes:

  • Upper respiratory tract (most common):
  • *Sinusitis, sinus pain, bacterial infection in sinuses.
  • *Constant runny nose (worse than that caused by a common cold).
  • *Bloody nose.
  • *Sores around the opening of the nose.
  • *Hole develops in cartilage in nose.
  • *Ear infections, ear canals blocked, hearing loss.
  • Lungs (usually present):
  • *Cough.
  • *Coughing up blood.
  • *Shortness of breath.
  • *Chest pain.
  • Other symptoms (less common):
  • *Muscle and joint pain, joint swelling.
  • *Redness and burning or pain in the eyes (conjunctivitis) and swelling in the eye.
  • *Double vision or decrease in vision (requires immediate medical care).
  • *Sores on the skin that look like small red or purple raised areas (they may or may not cause pain).
  • *Hoarseness of the voice.
  • *Fever, night sweats.
  • *Loss of appetite, weight loss.

4. Cultural Interrelation: We could mention episode 7 Hunting from the TV series (2004-2012) House M. D. (season 2). Wegener’s is a frequent differential on the show, but it only appeared at the end of Season 7, where is was almost mistaken for cancer.

S: 1. WNMDT – http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/2418.html (last access: 11 June 2017); DTMe (last access: 26 June 2017). 2. MEDICALDICT – http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Wegener%27s+granulomatosis last access: 11 June 2017). 3. EME – http://www.emedicinehealth.com/wegener_granulomatosis/page2_em.htm (last access: 11 June 2017). 4. http://houseunited.wikidot.com/wiki:lupus; http://house.wikia.com/wiki/Wegener%27s_disease (last access: 4 May 2018).

SYN: necrotizing respiratory granulomatosis, pathergic granulomatosis, midline granulomatosis.

S: EME – http://www.emedicinehealth.com/wegeners_granulomatosis-health/article_em.htm (last access: 13 June 2017)

CR: hematuria