Wegener granulomatosis in a child: cutaneous findings as the presenting signs

Neutrophilic Dermatoses in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis: A French Multicenter Study of 17 Cases and Literature Review

A few reports suggest combination of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and neutrophilic dermatoses (ND). We aimed to describe the main characteristics of patients presenting with both AAV and ND in a French cohort and through a systematic literature review, and to discuss the possible common pathogenic process involved. We conducted a retrospective study of patients with both conditions. Patients were selected via the French Internal Medicine Society (SNFMI) and the French Vasculitis Study Group (FVSG). A literature review focusing on a combination of both conditions, concentrated only on publications with well-established diagnoses and individual detailed data. Seventeen patients diagnosed with AAV and ND were identified in this cohort. Twelve patients had granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 4 had microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and one had eosinophilic GPA (EGPA). Eight patients, all with GPA, displayed pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). Sweet's syndrome was observed in 6 patients (4 with MPA, one with GPA and one with EGPA) and erythema elevatum diutinum in the other three (2 with GPA and 1 with MPA). The literature review identified 33 additional patients with both conditions, including 26 with GPA. Altogether, of the 50 patients (17 from our study and 33 from the literature review), 33 (66%) patients presented with PG associated with GPA in 29 cases (89%). Corticosteroids were the first-line treatment in conjunction with an immunosuppressive agent in most cases. Outcomes were good and a total of 15 patients experienced a relapse. Patients who relapsed were more likely to have ear, nose and throat manifestation than patients who did not [12/15 (80%) relapsing patients vs. 15/35 (43%) non-relapsing patients; p = 0.03)]. In our stud, the most frequent association concerned GPA and PG. ND should be considered and specifically researched within the spectrum of cutaneous manifestations observed in AAV.

Cutaneous Ulcers as Initial Presentation of Localized Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an ANCA associated small vessel vasculitis characterized by necrotizing granulomatous inflammation involving the upper and the lower respiratory tract and the kidneys. The disease has a broad clinical spectrum that ranges from limited/localized involvement of a single organ system to a generalized systemic vasculitis that affects several organs with evidence of end organ damage. Atypical forms of the disease have been recognized with or without respiratory tract involvement with a long protracted course before manifesting as generalized disease. Case Presentation. We describe a 57-year-old woman who presented with recurrent fever and cutaneous ulcers on her legs who was diagnosed to have granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) after an extensive evaluation which excluded infectious, other vasculitides, connective tissue disease and malignant etiologies. Conclusion. In the absence of typical manifestations, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is indeed a diagnostic challenge to the physician. Atypical manifestations like unexplained recurrent fever and cutaneous ulcers nevertheless call for keeping a low threshold for the diagnosis of GPA as the disease can initially present in localized form before heralding into a generalized disease.

Granulomatous disorders

Almost all granulomatous skin disorders can cause red lesions on the face. Such disorders may include many bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections, noninfectious inflammatory disorders, foreign body reactions, and even neoplasms. Clinically, they usually present with papules, plaques, nodules, and/or abscesses, which may ulcerate. It may be helpful in their differential diagnosis to define certain clinical patterns, such as multiple and discrete papules, necrotic or umbilicated papules or nodules, annular plaques, vegetative plaques or tumors, verrucous plaques or tumors, abscesses and/or sinuses, and lymphocutaneous pattern. Some disorders, such as sarcoidosis, can cause a wide variety of lesions. We accept that cutaneous leishmaniasis is also among such great imitators.

Hemorrhagic acneiform lesions in a teenager as the initial presentation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis

A 19-year-old girl presented with hemorrhagic acneiform lesions on the face for several months that was unresponsive to conventional acne treatment. A biopsy revealed a noninfectious suppurative granulomatous dermatitis with hemorrhage, possibly representing a ruptured folliculitis. A second biopsy revealed chronic granulomatous dermal inflammation and hemorrhage with foreign body giant cells non-infectious by stains. No vasculitis was noted in either biopsy. Later in her course she developed a severe sinusitis and eventually presented with severe fevers, rapid weight loss, sinusitis, and cough. Further workup produced the diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis). She rapidly improved with intravenous steroids and rituximab. To date, acneiform lesions have only been reported in young adult patients and may represent a clinical manifestation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis unique to this age group, as illustrated in our patient.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) in children: report of three cases with cutaneous manifestations and literature review

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), also known as Wegener's granulomatosis, is a rare disease in childhood. Of 39 GPA patients that we diagnosed during a 20-year period, only 3 (7.7%) were younger than 18 years. We report the course of GPA in three girls whose disease started at the ages of 16, 11, and 6 years. All had cutaneous manifestations: the first had necrotizing vasculitis, the second had palpable purpura, and the third had right upper-eyelid edema and infiltration and proptosis caused by extraocular pseudotumor, initially histologically misdiagnosed as orbital immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease. Unlike with skin vasculitis and glomerulonephritis, upper-airway and orbital inflammation were resistant to immunosuppressive therapy. Our report emphasizes that children presenting with cutaneous vasculitis, chronic eyelid swelling, sinusitis, or hoarseness should be tested for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. We emphasize that the upper-eyelid edema and infiltration, with histologic characteristics of orbital IgG4-related disease, may be the initial presentation of localized GPA in children, a feature that, until now, has been described only in adults.

[Atypical presentation of Wegener disease in childhood]

The pediatric forms of Wegener granulomatosis (WG) are rare. The clinical picture and the profile have specificities compared to those of adults. We report a case of a girl aged of four years and a half who presented initially with a clinical picture of Henoch Schönlein purpura. Physical examination revealed additionally to purpura, scabby lesions on the buttocks. The histopathological examination of a skin biopsy disclosed histiocyte infiltration. There were no Ig A deposits on direct immunofluorescence study. One year later, the diagnosis of WG was suspected, when the patient developed a respiratory problem related to left pulmonary infarction. Screening for thromboembolic factors was positive for antiphosphilipid antibodies. Diagnosis of WG was confirmed by the histopathological study lung tissue and a significant titre of serum ANCA. Blood tests failed to provide evidence of renal involvement. Cyclophosphamide and prednisolone therapy was administrated. A relapse occurred one year later on the controlateral lung; but no biological marker of disease activity could be detected.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a multiorgan system disease of unknown etiology characterized by granulomatous inflammation, tissue necrosis, and variable degrees of vasculitis in small- and medium-sized blood vessels. In patients with WG, the musculoskeletal system can be involved before other typical symptoms of the disease. Also in WG, pneumothorax can develop as a rare complication. In this paper, we report a case with WG who had early articular involvement in the absence of classic features of illness and had pneumothorax which resulted from the rupture of the sub-pleural nodule. The aim of this work is to increase the awareness of early articular involvement in WG and the pneumothorax possibility especially in cases with cavitated nodules closure to pleura. This case emphasizes that early diagnosis and treatment is very important in avoiding further complications.

Cutaneous Vasculitis Update: Small Vessel Neutrophilic Vasculitis Syndromes

A broad and diverse spectrum of vasculitic syndromes exists. These syndromes affect the skin with varying levels of associated systemic manifestations, running the gamut from a self-limited, localized, cutaneous phenomenon to rapidly progressive, multiorgan disease. The majority of cases of cutaneous vasculitis will show a neutrophilic small vessel vasculitis that can be either a primary (idiopathic) disorder (eg, cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis) or a secondary disorder that is associated with drugs, infection (eg, streptococcal infection, viral hepatitis), or underlying disease (eg, connective tissue disease, malignancy). Biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis and also necessary for the detection of cutaneous vascular immune complexes by direct immunofluorescence. Based on the type of vessel disrupted by inflammation (small and/or muscular), the distribution of vasculitis in the dermis and subcutis, and predominate inflammatory cell-type mediating vessel wall damage, a list of relevant differential diagnoses can be generated. This histologic information coupled with extravascular findings such as tissue eosinophilia, tissue neutrophilia, and/or granulomas, plus pathophysiologic markers such as direct immunofluorescent examination for immune complexes and serologic evaluation for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies allows for more accurate diagnosis of specific vasculitic entities. Herein, we review both primary and secondary vasculitic syndromes that affect the skin and show a small vessel neutrophilic mediated vasculitis.

Collagenolytic (necrobiotic) granulomas: part 1 - the ‘blue’ granulomas

A collagenolytic or necrobiotic non-infectious granuloma is one in which a granulomatous infiltrate develops around a central area of altered collagen and elastic fibers. The altered fibers lose their distinct boundaries and exhibit new staining patterns, becoming either more basophilic or eosinophilic. Within the area of altered collagen, there may be deposition of acellular substances such as mucin (blue) or fibrin (red), or there may be neutrophils with nuclear dust (blue), eosinophils (red), or flame figures (red). These color distinctions can be used as a simple algorithm for the diagnosis of collagenolytic granulomas, i.e. "blue" granulomas vs. "red" granulomas. Eight diagnoses are included within these two groupings, which are discussed in this two-part article. In this first part, the clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and histologic features of the "blue" collagenolytic granulomas are discussed. These are the lesions of granuloma annulare, Wegener's granulomatosis, and rheumatoid vasculitis. In the subsequent half of this two-part series, the "red" collagenolytic granulomas will be discussed; these are the lesions of necrobiosis lipoidica, necrobiotic xanthogranuloma, rheumatoid nodules, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and eosinophilic cellulitis (Well's syndrome).