title: Wegener's granulomatosis, subglottic stenosis and antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies.
abstract: Wegener's granulomatosis is difficult to diagnose, especially when the presentation is unusual, restricted to an isolated region. We report four cases of recurrent subglottic stenosis posing difficulty in diagnosis. In each case the finding of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) strongly suggested an underlying vasculitic pathology, Wegener's granulomatosis. We discuss reasons for the difficulty in diagnosis in the past, the possible role of the ANCA assay in such patients, and suggest it should be more widely used in the future.
authors.affiliation: Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hoare
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jayne
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rhys Evans
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Croft
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007829:Laryngostenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies