Wegener's granulomatosis is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis with the prevalence of 3 in 100 000. The disease was first described in 1931 by a medical student in Germany named Heinz Klinger. Afterwards, in 1936 Dr. Wegener a young German pathologist gave a detailed explanation regarding three patients suffering from this disease. Although it is an uncommon disease, if not diagnosed and treated in-time my cause renal failure and severe pulmonary complications including diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage.
Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment is important in preventing related morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary involvement is the most common form of the disease manifested in 95% of cases but onset of the disease with rare symptoms such as proptosis (in 2% of the cases) and hyperthyroidism (in 1% of the cases) has been reported as well. |
