Pulmonary capillaritis in Wegener's granulomatosis detected via transbronchial lung biopsy

Abstract

A 73-year-old woman presented to our hospital with scleritis, cough, and hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography showed a mass lesion, multiple ground-glass opacities, and nodules. Bronchoscopy showed a skip lesion of mucosal erosion with white necrotic substance; however, a biopsy specimen of the erosion yielded no characteristic findings. Transbronchial lung biopsy showed alveolar hemorrhage and capillaritis. Proteinase-3 antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody was elevated to 62.5 U/mL, and she was diagnosed as having Wegener's granulomatosis. Steroid therapy combined with cyclophosphamide was started; however, hemoptysis was not resolved until plasmapheresis therapy was added. Her general condition initially improved, but respiratory insufficiency worsened with fever on the 30th hospital day. The patient subsequently died on the 41st hospital day, and cytomegalovirus infection was suggested as a possible cause of death. © 2012 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.