[Early otorhinolaryngological manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis. Analysis of 21 patients].
Wegener's Granulomatosis (WG) is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis that has a strong affinity for the upper respiratory tract.


OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively study the clinical features of otorhinolaryngological manifestations from 21 WG patients.


METHODS
Eleven men and 10 women were studied with respectively a mean age of 62.7 (23-79) and 63.9 (53-73).


METHODS
Otorhinolaryngological manifestations were recorded before and during the course of WG.


RESULTS
Upper respiratory tract involvement occurred in 81% of cases (17/21 patients) and was isolated in 42.8% of cases (9/21 patients). Nasosinusal manifestations occurred in 71.4% of cases (15/21) before and at the time of GW diagnosis. They included bilateral sinusitis (7 cases), nasal crusting (6 cases), purulent rhinorrhea (5 cases), epistaxis (4 cases), nasal ulcers (2 cases), nasal congestion with obstruction (3 cases) and 4 cases of nose deformity (saddle nose or oedema). Otologic manifestations occurred in 28.5% of cases and were never isolated. They included otitis media (3 cases), sudden hearing loss (3 cases), tinnitus (1 case), facial palsy (1 case) and 2 cases of chondritis. Pharyngolaryngotracheal manifestations occurred in 33.3% of cases (7/21). Diagnosis of GW was based on positive ANCA test (95.2% of cases), presence of biologic inflammatory parameters (76% of cases) and histological features. 29 biopsies from nasosinusal lesions on 17 patients were made. 44.8% of the biopsies were contributive with at least one histologic feature of the combination including vasculitis, necrosis and granulomatous inflammation. The best contributive site of biopsy was the paranasal sinus.


CONCLUSIONS
We report that otorhinolaryngological manifestations occurred in 81% of cases before and at the time of GW diagnosis. These findings indicate that otorhinolaryngologists have a central role to play in early diagnosis of the disease.
Llompart
X
X
Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie de la face et du cou, Centre hospitalier universitaire, BP 69, 63003 Clermont Ferrand Cedex 1.
Aumaître
O
O
Kémény
J-L
JL
Mom
T
T
Gilain
L
L
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000276:immunology; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic