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Review article: Biomedical intelligence

Vol. 142 No. 1112 (2012)

Vasculitis of the upper airways1

  • Christian Pagnoux
  • Nikolaus E Wolter
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2012.13541
Cite this as:
Swiss Med Wkly. 2012;142:w13541
Published
11.03.2012

Summary

Systemic vasculitides are rare and potentially life-threatening diseases. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; formerly Wegener’s granulomatosis) and Churg Strauss syndrome (possibly to be renamed eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; EGPA) are the 2 chief systemic vasculitides which may involve the upper respiratory tract. Chronic allergic rhinitis and nasal polyposis in EGPA, and recurrent sinusitis and/or otitis in both conditions, are not specific and can thus represent real diagnostic challenges if they are the first manifestations of the disease. Nasal septum perforation, saddle nose deformity and/or subglottic stenosis (SGS), although not totally specific, are more suggestive of GPA. Because upper airway manifestations often tend to be refractory to systemic therapy and/or to linger, local treatment represents a major aspect of management of the condition, especially for patients with SGS.

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