Increasing incidence of Wegener's granulomatosis in Sweden, 1975-2001.
OBJECTIVE
Studies of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) since the late 1980s indicate a probable increase in incidence of unknown cause and significance, possibly related to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) testing. To extend these observations and to include calendar periods before ANCA was introduced, we assessed time trends in the incidence of WG in Sweden in the period 1975-2001.


METHODS
In the population-based Swedish Inpatient Register, we identified 1938 individuals diagnosed with WG in the period 1975-2001, and calculated the annual age and sex adjusted incidences.


RESULTS
The incidence increased from 0.33 (95% CI 0.28-0.39) in the period 1975-85 to 0.77 (95% CI 0.69-0.85) in 1986-90, to 1.19 (95% CI 1.12-1.26) in 1991-2001, resulting in a mean incidence of 0.78 (95% CI 0.74-0.82).


CONCLUSIONS
WG displays a strong temporal trend. While the increase coincides to some extent with the implementation of ANCA testing, suggestive of increased disease recognition, ANCA testing remains an incomplete explanation as increasing incidences were noted before as well as after their introduction.
Knight
Ann
A
Department of Rheumatology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. ann.kataja.knight@akademiska.se
Ekbom
Anders
A
Brandt
Lena
L
Askling
Johan
J
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015415:Biomarkers