Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare disorder in which blood vessels become inflamed. This leads to damage in major organs of the body. It was formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis.
Formerly: Wegener's granulomatosis
GPA mainly affects blood vessels in the lungs, kidneys, nose, sinuses, and ears. Other areas may also be affected in some cases. The disease can be severe and prompt treatment is important.
The exact cause is unknown, but it is an autoimmune disorder.
GPA is most common in middle-aged adults of northern European descent. It is rare in children, but has been seen in infants as young as 3 months old.
Other common symptoms may include:
Less common symptoms include:
Exams and Tests
You may have a blood test that looks for proteins called antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). These are often found in people with active GPA. However, this test is sometimes negative, even in people with the condition.
A chest x-ray will be done to look for signs of lung disease.
Urinalysis is done to look for signs of kidney disease such as protein and blood in the urine. Sometimes urine is collected over 24 hours to check how the kidneys are working.
Blood tests may be done to exclude other illnesses. These may include:
A biopsy is sometimes needed to confirm the diagnosis and determine how severe the disease is. A kidney biopsy is most commonly done. You may have one of the following:
Other tests that may be done include:
You will probably be treated glucocorticoids (such as prednisone). These are given along with other medicines that slow down the immune response.
Medicines used with prednisone to treat GPA include:
These medicines are effective in severe disease, but they may cause serious side effects. Talk to your health care provider about your treatment plan.
Other medicines used for the condition include:
Support groups with others who suffer from similar diseases may help people with the condition and their families learn about the diseases and adjust to the changes associated with the treatment.
Without treatment, people with severe forms of this disease can die within a few months.
With treatment, the outlook for most patients is good. Most people who receive corticosteroids and other medicines that slow the immune response get much better.
The disease may return about half the time. It often comes back within 2 years of stopping treatment, so ongoing follow-up and possibly treatment are needed.
Complications most often occur when the disease is not treated. People with GPA develop tissue damage in the lungs, airways, and the kidneys. Kidney involvement may result in blood in the urine and kidney failure. Kidney disease can quickly get worse. Kidney function may not improve even when the condition is controlled by medicines.
If untreated, kidney failure and possibly death occur in most cases.
Other complications may include:
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if:
There is no known prevention.
Falk RJ, Gross WL, Guillevin L, et al. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's): an alternative name for Wegener's granulomatosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011;70(4):704. PMID: 21372195 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21372195.
Specks U, Merkel PA, Seo P, et al. Efficacy of remission-induction regimens for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2013;369(5):417-427. PMID: 23902481 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23902481.
Stone JH. The systemic vasculitides. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 270.
Stone JH, Merkel PA, Spiera R, et al. Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(3):221-232. PMID: 20647199 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20647199.
Review Date: 10/1/2017
Reviewed By: Gordon A. Starkebaum, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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