[Wegener's granulomatosis with subglottic stenosis: options for local and systemic treatment. Review of the literature].

BACKGROUND

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a primary systemic vasculitis with characteristic clinical manifestations from upper airways, lungs, and kidneys. Subglottic stenosis is one of the local symptoms which may occur independently or in association with involvement of other organs.

CASE REPORT: We present a patient with systemic WG positive for C-ANCA. Regression of pulmonary changes was achieved with induction therapy but the patient developed subglottic stenosis. Endotracheal dilation was partly successful, so systemic treatment had to be reintroduced to inhibit the activity of the disease.

CONCLUSION

The problem of localized organ lesions in the course of a systemic disease is discussed. It is important to distinguish between signs of active disease requiring systemic therapy and organ lesions which demand a localized approach.