Asymptomatic splenic infarction in Wegener's granulomatosis

In a necropsy series of patients with WG, the spleen was commonly affected: 78-100% of patients had splenic lesions with a combination of necrosis, vasculitis, and granuloma formation. 3, 4 Clinically apparent splenic disease is rare, however. 1 We wish to report briefly the case of a 47 year old wo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2002-02, Vol.61 (2), p.185-186
Main Authors: Papaioannides, D, Nikas, S N, Fotinou, M, Akritidis, N K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopsy
Blood
Disease
Female
Gangrene
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - complications
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Letter
Medical imaging
Middle Aged
Patients
Spleen - diagnostic imaging
splenic infarction
Splenic Infarction - complications
Splenic Infarction - diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Wegener's granulomatosis
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Summary:In a necropsy series of patients with WG, the spleen was commonly affected: 78-100% of patients had splenic lesions with a combination of necrosis, vasculitis, and granuloma formation. 3, 4 Clinically apparent splenic disease is rare, however. 1 We wish to report briefly the case of a 47 year old woman who presented with manifestations of classical WG and radiological evidence of splenic infarcts. Discussion Splenic involvement in WG has included such abnormalities as splenomegaly, capsular adhesion, impaired splenic function, and infarcts. 2 Infarction may occur as a result of a distal occlusion of the splenic artery or its branches, because splenic parenchymal arteries are end vessels that do not communicate with one another. 5 There are few reports on splenic infarction on post mortem in patients with WG. 3, 4 Histological examination frequently shows massive or multiple areas of splenic necrosis, usually associated with extensive central arteritis, splenic trabeculitis, follicular arteriolitis and necrosis, disseminated visceral granulomata, and capsulitis.
ISSN:0003-4967
1468-2060
DOI:10.1136/ard.61.2.185-a