title: Immune phenomena in localized and generalized Wegener's granulomatosis.
abstract: Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is characterized by granulomatous inflammation and systemic vasculitis with a predilection for the lungs and kidneys. In most patients WG begins with a localized organ involvement of the upper respiratory tract that progresses to systemic disease (generalized WG) (1). Because of the life-threatening nature of systemic vasculitis, much effort has concentrated on elucidating the pathogenesis of the vasculitis. However, based upon a renewed interest in (innate) immune defenses against microbes, a better understanding of the chronic granulomatous inflammation may contribute to a more precise insight into the early genesis of WG. Thus, this review focuses on summarizing and discussing data for a potential pattern of disease, i.e. from localized to generalized WG with a special emphasis on granulomatous lesions of the upper respiratory tract and their alterations during the disease course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Luebeck, Germany. mueller@medinf.mu-luebeck.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holl-Ulrich
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamprecht
mesh_terms: D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology