title: [General characteristics of 29 patients with small vessel vasculitis].
abstract: The objective of this series was to describe the general characteristics and clinical manifestations of patients with small vessel vasculitis who were assisted in the autoimmunity department of a community public hospital and to compare the results with the literature. Clinical records under the label of vasculitis in a period of 16 years were reviewed in a retrospective way. All patients selected fulfilled diagnostic criteria of small vessel vasculitis. The data were extracted and the analysis of survival was completed by phone. Later a bibliographical search was carried out and the results were compared. Thirteen patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, 6 with Churg-Strauss syndrome and 10 with microscopic polyangiitis were included. Fifty five percent (16) were under 55 years old when diagnosis was made and male/female ratio was 2.6 to 1. The diagnostic delay was over a year in 46% of the cases. Respiratory and ear-nose-throat were the most frequently affected systems. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were present in 79% of patients. Overall mortality was 24% (7/29). There were several differences between the results of our series and the literature: the presentation form, affected systems and percentage of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Greater diagnostic delay and worse prognosis were observed in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative patients. Special attention should be given to these antibodies since they constitute a significant tool at the time of diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital Fernández, Cerviño, Buenos Aires, Argentina. dibenedetton@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Benedetto
authors.forename: María Ximena
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: López Mujica
authors.forename: Martín E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tourón
authors.forename: Sebastian A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allievi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055953:Microscopic Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015415:Biomarkers